Work/Life Balance
Orrick Partner Says Law Firms Must Change Promotion and Billing Structures
Posted Jul 18, 2008, 10:32 am CDT
By Debra Cassens Weiss
A partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe endorses part-time work options at law firms, but she says it isn’t nearly enough to satisfy the new generation of lawyers.
Patricia Gillette, a San Francisco partner in employment law, said law firms need to completely change promotion structures, create multiple paths to partnership and ban the billable hour. The AmLaw Daily reported on Gillette’s comments during a roundtable discussion entitled, “Flexing the Workplace.”
"Law firms are going to feel the push from Generation X and Generation Y lawyers who want a different life," Gillette said. She said firms will eventually follow the lead of technology companies and offer alternative work schedules that include telecommuting, job sharing and part-time work.
"Change is coming," Gillette said. "But just offering part-time alone is not the solution."
The discussion, sponsored by the National Association of Women Lawyers, coincided with the release of its study (PDF) on the ways law firms can help women advance into leadership positions. Among its recommendations: Compensate partners who promote diversity; encourage men to mentor women; and keep a close eye on how attorneys are credited for their business development efforts.
Related Stories
- Longtime Federal Judge Says Money Motivated Move to Pepper Hamilton
30 minutes ago - Court Suspends Lawyer Who Ignored Discovery, Cited Billable Pressures
1 hour, 21 minutes ago - Law Firm Mergers Slow; Economy is Blamed
2 hours, 25 minutes ago - Judge, Two Law Profs Decide Mental Illness Should not be a Secret
4 hours, 24 minutes ago
Related Topics
Commenting has expired on this post.
Comments
Posted by JDH - 2 months, 2 weeks, 6 days, 1 hour, 41 minutes ago
I’m sick of hearing about this multiple paths to partnership crap. If you decide that you dont want to commit enough of your life to making partner, then you shouldn’t make partner. Period. Life is about choices. If you choose work-life balance, then don’t expect someone to change the rules so you can also make partner. Read a Jack Welch book. His wisdom in this area is priceless. No such thing as work-life balance. You either choose work as your life passion or you choose something else. Those who chose work are going to climb the farthest and make the most money. End of story.
Posted by associate - 2 months, 2 weeks, 5 days, 3 hours, 58 minutes ago
It’s called “making” partner for a reason.
I do prefer a firm that requires a tad less billed hours and a LOT lower stress, but it is a business. I don’t expect to make partner without making money, and I sure wouldn’t take someone as a partner who doesn’t make money.
Posted by kay sieverding - 2 months, 2 weeks, 4 days, 5 hours, 51 minutes ago
I searched on “pro se” in State of MN decisions and found many references to employment cases. Many of these were real estate agents. I think there is a huge market for offering unbundled services such as consulting on a motion, legal proof reading, and 2nd chair in hearings, to pro se litigants. People who do their own home remodeling spend a lot of money on materials and go to how to seminars. They are happy to save money but still have a budget. I think that is true for many “pro se” litigants also.
Posted by To Kay - 2 months, 2 weeks, 3 days, 12 hours, 35 minutes ago
Kay, if you really care so much about the practice of law: get a degree and pass the bar.
Practicing attorneys would not like to provide “unbundled” services as you call them, because once we are providing legal advice to someone we can be held liable for everything associated with the case. It isn’t always easy to start and then stop the representation for piecemeal work that you are describing. I personally would discourage it. Often, you need an attorney to strategize the entire execution. If you have five attorneys each doing a different bit, you’ll get shoddy work.