The firm supports its women lawyers through a variety of initiatives, ranging from new, firm-wide rainmaker training exclusively for women to generous parental-leave benefits. The Richmond, VA–based firm’s written reduced-hours and flextime policies mean lawyers can work a minimum of 60% of billable-hours targets and remain eligible for partnership, raises and prorated bonuses. Lawyers can choose to work reduced hours or flextime at any point in their careers and for a variety of reasons, not necessarily child-related. The 19-office firm offers a generous 18 weeks of paid maternity leave and also allows new-mother associates to take a six-month return-to-work ramp-up: They have a 20% reduction in their billable-hours target with no change in pay, regardless of the amount of parental leave taken.

Female Equity Partners 11%

Female Nonequity Partners 21%

Lawyers Working Reduced Hours 6%

This firm’s liberal family-leave policy offers 18 weeks of paid leave to female associates for childbirth, adoption or foster-child placement and six weeks of paternity leave—and up to one year of job guaranteed leave to both men and women. The Richmond, VA–based firm also supports new moms and dads by offering a six-month “return-to-work ramp-up,” which reduces their billable hours by 20% with no change in pay. Last year, 25 new mothers transitioned back to work on reduced hours.

Female equity partners: 13%

Female nonequity partners: 24%

Female counsel: 52%

Female associates: 44%

Female lawyers promoted to nonequity partner, 2004–2008: 35%

Female lawyers promoted to equity partner, 2004–2008: 15%

Lawyers working reduced hours: 4

Lawyers working reduced hours, 2004–2008: 4%

Weeks paid maternity leave: 18

Weeks paid paternity leave: 6

Weeks paid adoption leave: 18

Offer phase-back program for new moms?: Yes

Offer reentry program for lawyer moms?: Yes

Offer formal flextime program for associates & counsel?: Yes

Lawyers working flextime schedule: 6%

Offer support groups for reduced-hours lawyers?: Yes