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.

Shelf policies don't cut it. To keep their bright, experienced attorneys, law firms have to have effective part-time programs that everyone can use without stigma. Take this quiz to see if your law firm's program is making the grade.

Click on the answer that best describes your firm.

(Note: no attempt is made to see, record, or collect data from these answers; this quiz is offered purely for educational and entertainment purposes.)

1. At my firm, the part-time policy is used by

a. no one because we all know it is the kiss of death for an attorney's career here.

b. several mothers of young children, because they don't care if they don't get ahead.

c. several dozen male and female attorneys who have interests and responsibilities outside the office.

d. no one, but we have noticed that partners who want to play golf or teach, and long-time partners who are nearing retirement, certainly work less than full-time.

2. When an attorney's part-time proposal is approved at my firm,

a. the attorney's workload stays the same.

b. the attorney's workload is reduced to ensure that he or she works only part-time.

c. the attorney's workload is increased to test his or her ability to work under pressure.

d. the attorney's workload is given to someone else and he or she goes on a document review.

3. The hours that part-time attorneys at my firm contract to work

a. include billable and non-billable time.

b. include only billable time.

c. include billable time and some pro bono time.

4. At my firm, part-time associates

a. leave before they come up for partner.

b. are taken completely off the partnership track.

c. stay on the partnership track, but no part-time attorneys have ever been made partner.

d. do make partner, sometimes with their own class and sometimes on a proportionally delayed timetable.

5. Schedule creep at my firm

a. is what we call the guy down the hall who looks at our billing records to make sure we are working hard enough.

b. happens all the time; part-time attorneys end up working longer and longer hours until they are almost full-time again and on a part-time salary.

c. isn't an issue for part-time attorneys because part-time attorneys rarely have to work more hours than they have agreed to work.

d. sometimes happens, but the firm gives more money to the part-timers who work more.

6. Benefits for part-time attorneys at my firm

a. are the same as for full-time attorneys.

b. are non-existent.

c. are proportional to the benefits received by full-time attorneys.

d. are available, but the part-time attorneys have to pay for them.

7. Before an attorney begins to work part-time at my firm,

a. he or she is given a farewell party.

b. she or he sends around an email telling the other attorneys in the firm her or his new working hours.

c. he or she meets with an advisor or mentor to plan the details of how the schedule will be carried out.

d. she or he attends a training session with her or his supervisor and coworkers about the benefits and drawbacks of part-time work, and they discuss expectations, coverage of client needs, accessibility outside the office, solutions to potential problems, and semi-annual reviews of how the schedule is working.

- end-