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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Three part-time attorneys have been promoted to partners since January 1, 2000.

Karen Lockwood is the Co-Chair of Howrey Women's Leadership Initiative, implemented in 2002 to focus on training that leads to the partnership track for female associates, work-life programs that support family life, and recruitment and retention of women lawyers and non-legal professionals throughout the career hierarchy.

One Howrey attorney told PAR that it appears that it is mostly mothers of young children who work part-time, and that the effect on progression to partnership is noticeable.

Reports are that part-time associates often end up working full-time hours at Howrey, and professional development or advancement suffers from a part-time schedule.