If you would like
to comment on this firm's part-time policies or on the comments
themselves, please click here.
Comments on the firm's part-time policy:
In its Vault.com diversity
profile, the firm notes that, since January 1, 2000, it has promoted
to partner seven attorneys who chose to work a part-time schedule,
although none of those promotions occurred in the Palo Alto office
or in the New York City office. "We currently have 16 partners
(3.5 percent of the total partnership) working part time in our
U.S. offices, six of whom were promoted to partner while working
part time."
Part-time attorneys at Mayer Brown are paid proportionate salaries
and are eligible for a proportionate percentage of the bonus for
their class-year. There may be the possibility for further pay,
if attorneys bill substantially more than their target hours,
but there is no official policy to provide retroactive salary.
Part-time attorneys receive full benefits at the firm, but their
vacation days are reduced proportionately. One associate reports
that the partners are generally understanding of part-time associates'
time limitations, and are at least as respectful of part-time
associates' time as they are of full-time associates' time.
As is often the case, there is apparently a big disparity among
how part-time is practiced at the firm's various offices. PAR
has heard reports that the New York office is much worse than
the others in terms of stigmatized part-time. One attorney reported
that the associates in the NY office understand that part-time
associates will not be made partner. It has never happened, and
no one expects it to happen any time soon. Another associate told
PAR that several partners in the NY office refuse to work with
part-time associates. PAR also heard reports that few role models
for women with children exist at the firm; most women partners
don't have children or waited until late in life to have children.
