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.

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6. Benefits for part-time attorneys at my firm

While the cost of some benefits are steep, the cost of replacing a departed attorney is steeper. Maintaining benefits at the same level for part-time and full-time attorneys sends a message that part-time attorneys are valued at the firm. Proportional benefits arrangements are common and acceptable.

(Note: some benefit plans require attorneys to work a minimum number of hours per week to qualify for the benefit, but this need not affect a part-time attorney's benefits if the firm considers all of the business-related effort of the attorney (e.g., business development efforts, continuing legal education, planning or administrative work, work done from home) as the attorney's work and not just the number of hours that the attorney is in the office or the number of hours the attorney bills.)

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