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Four Qualities Women Attorneys Look For In A Job

by Beverly Aarons 3. March 2010 09:39
While about 50 percent of attorneys graduating from law school are women, legal firms are still facing challenges in recruiting, retaining and advancing women attorneys.  One of the challenges faced is that women still have special challenges when it comes to building a viable network, creating strong relationships with more senior attorneys and achieving a healthy work/life balance as they progress in their careers. Below are four qualities that women attorneys look for in a job and how those qualities may help law firms overcoming the high turnover rate of women lawyers:
  1. A flexible working policy.  Because most women still take care of most or all of the household responsibilities such as caring for children, a flexible work schedule is important.  A sick child, teacher conference or even a snafu with a babysitter may require women attorneys to take more time off.  But a flexible working policy can allow them to come in earlier, later or on the weekends to make up for lost time.
  2. Part-time partnership programs.  Some law firms are now instituting part-time partnership programs where a new partner is hired to work on a part-time basis on a known track. Attorneys enter the program as salaried partners and can advance to become equity partners while working part-time for a certain number of years. As many studies have shown, women are more likely to work part-time or drop out of the workforce to raise children.  Part-time partnerships allow women to make partner while working part-time if they choose.
  3. Remote work.  The ability to work from home may offer the best flexibility for women attorneys who have families.  Like flexible working, a work-at-home arrangement can offer flexible hours a woman attorney may need.
  4. Mentorship opportunities.  Creating a viable network is imperative for any attorney, especially if they want to advance to partner.  Mentorship programs that match women attorneys with seasoned lawyers can be helpful in creating a strong career network foundation.

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