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### Up To PAR###

PAR's Weblog

Check out the latest work/life news for lawyers at PAR's weblog, "Up to PAR." Commentary on news, alerts about trends, and discussion of personnel management practices are yours for the clicking.

Read more in the Up To PAR weblog archive.

Infobit: Since 1985, law schools have been graduating classes of new lawyers that are 40% or more female. Yet in 1996, only 14.2% of law firm partners were women, and in 2005, only 17.2% were women. (Note: this figure is for all partners; the number of equity partners is lower.) Source: Catalyst. At this rate of increase, women should make up half of law firm partners by the year 2115.

For past Infobits, check our the Infobit Archive.

PAR's corporate counsel project studied work/life balance and reduced hours at in-house legal departments. The project, funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and supported by American University Washington College of Law and the Women's Bar Association of the District of Columbia, examined the work schedules used by in-house counsel to create work/life balance and best practices for retaining attorneys through non-stigmatized flexible work arrangements. Additionally, the project studied ways that legal departments, as clients, can assist law firms in decreasing turnover and promoting stability in attorney-client relationships.

Interim report: Caveat Counselor

Final report: Better on Balance?

Although PAR's Corporate Counsel Project is complete, we always welcome comments and experiences from in-house counsel about their work/life balance. Please send comments to corporatecounsel@pardc.org.

Meet PAR's Corporate Counsel Project Advisory Committee

PAR's advisory committee includes leaders from the D.C. legal community, representatives from corporations that have notable work/life programs, and work/life experts:

John J. Flood, Vice President and Associate General Counsel, NASD

Shirley Higuchi, D.C. Bar President and Assistant Executive Director for Legal and Regulatory Affairs, American Psychological Association

Alison Hooker, Partner, Center for the New Work Force, Ernst & Young LLP

George W. Jones, Jr., D.C. Bar Immediate Past President and Partner, Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP

Anne Kappler, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Fannie Mae

Frederick J. Krebs, President, American Corporate Counsel Association

Linda A. Madrid, Managing Director, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, CarrAmerica

Ellen Ostrow, Ph.D., LawyersLifeCoach.com

Veta T. Richardson, Executive Director, Minority Corporate Counsel Association

James J. Sandman, Managing Partner, Arnold & Porter

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