Jenner & Block

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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.

Jenner and Block

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We have received comments about how well some firms' part-time programs are working. These comments are often anonymous and cannot be verified; therefore, they should be viewed as unreliable and given no more weight than gossip.

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:

The firm has a page on its website dedicated to work/life balance. It appears to understand the economic reasons for having a good part-time program, and has sound ideas for implementation. Its managing partner wrote a very good article in 2007 about part-time partners.

Associates working at least 75% of full-time are eligible for promotion to partner. Three attorneys who have worked part-time have been promoted to partner since 2000.

Two caution flags: 1) the firm's NALP form indicates that eligibility for part-time is determined on a case by case basis, which PAR does not consider to be a best practice; and 2) the firm's Vault/MCCA diversity form indicates that reduced hours work is limited to childcare or family care needs -- again, not a best practice.

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