Can Law Firms Offer Same Flexibility as Accounting Firms? Probably Not, Law Prof Says

Summers off and sabbaticals at 40 percent pay are among the perks granted at several large accounting firms, which have increased their focus on flexible working conditions. At Ernst & Young, for example, accountants arrange to cover for others’ personal commitments, even during crunch time, the New York Times reports.…

Jan 13, 2011 12:21 PM CST

Are Premature Work-Life Balance Concerns Sabotaging Women Lawyers’ Careers?

Facebook’s chief operating officer has raised a work-life balance issue that could apply equally to women lawyers. Sheryl Sandberg spoke about three reasons women aren’t making it into top leadership positions, the Careerist blog reports. The three reasons: 1) Women literally don’t take a seat at the conference table. Too…

Jan 12, 2011 1:28 PM CST

Dewey Adopts New Vacation Policy Allowing ‘A Reasonable Amount of Paid Time Off’

In a policy change that, Dewey & LeBoeuf says, better reflects today’s realities for practicing lawyers, the firm has eliminated a cap on vacation days. Instead, starting Jan. 1, associates and counsel are “entitled to take a reasonable amount of paid time off … subject to client demands and your…

Jan 10, 2011 7:18 PM CST

Percentage of Part-Time Lawyers Trails Rate of Other Professionals

The percentage of lawyers working part-time at major law firms has risen from 2.4 percent in 1994 to 6.4 percent in 2010, but the rate is still lower than that of other professionals. The percentage of part-time professionals in specialties such as engineering, architecture and medicine was 13.5 percent in…

Jan 6, 2011 3:16 PM CST

Senator Who Fought for Gay Rights Cites BigLaw Single Life, Fire Island Trips

New York’s junior senator, Kirsten Gillibrand, has earned some new-found respect in her hard-fought battle to repeal don’t ask, don’t tell. At least one gay-rights advocate had worried early on that Gillibrand was courting gays for political reasons. But the BigLaw lawyer-turned-politician tells the New York Times she had realized…

Dec 23, 2010 2:10 PM CST

After 32 Years, Criminal Lawyer Plans to Exit Practice to Study Religion in Jerusalem

Mike Krampner always wanted to be a criminal defense lawyer. But after more than 30 years of practice, most of it in charge of his own firm, the Wyoming practitioner is ready for a change. After working for the past year on a master’s thesis in Jewish history, he’s planning…

Dec 15, 2010 11:48 PM CST

The 4th Annual ABA Journal Blawg 100

Our 100 Favorite Blawgs

Dec 1, 2010 8:05 AM CST

Jail is ‘Like Freedom,’ Ex-Lawyer Says, Now That She’s Facing Her Addiction and Depression Issues

Now serving six months after making headlines in her South Dakota community for allegedly leading police on a high-speed, booze-fueled chase and taking at least $20,000 from a client trust account, a former Sioux Falls lawyer says she is seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. After admitting…

Nov 29, 2010 8:24 PM CST

Gratitude Researcher Says Lawyers Are a Difficult Crowd

What makes a grateful person? Gratitude researcher Robert Emmons of the University of California at Davis explains with a joke, the Lawyers Wellbeing Blog reports. An optimist sees the glass as half full. The pessimist sees the glass as half empty. The grateful person is happy to have a glass.…

Nov 24, 2010 12:00 PM CST

Pfizer GC Offers Tips to Women Lawyers: Don’t Worry About Being Perfect, and Have Fun

Women lawyers tend to think they need to be perfect, and, in contrast to their male colleagues, they are often overly critical of themselves. But mistakes are inevitable, and it’s important to be able to learn from them and move on without agonizing, says Amy Schulman, senior vice president and…

Nov 10, 2010 8:11 PM CST

Author Sees ‘Groundswell’ of Male Lawyers Interested in Work-Life Balance

Male lawyers are saddled with the presumption that they will put work above all other demands, creating pressure and increased interest in work-life balance, according to the author of a new book on the subject. Work-life balance expert Joan Williams is seeing a “groundswell” of male lawyers interested in the…

Nov 3, 2010 11:00 AM CDT

Do Reduced-Hour Workloads Derail Partnership-Track Careers? (Podcast)

Work-life balance is always a hot topic among our readers, but this month our podcast guests were the ones fired-up in a heated discussion about the realities of practicing law, raising children and making it all work.

Nov 1, 2010 2:00 PM CDT

Are You Happy Now?

Nov 1, 2010 9:34 AM CDT

It Feels Good to Share

Lawyers go online to tell their stories about surviving breast cancer

Nov 1, 2010 8:35 AM CDT

Biker Lawyer’s Other Avocation: Dog (and Dachshund) Rescue

Personal injury attorney Jan Trendowski enjoys rebuilding and riding motorcycles, especially Harley Davidsons. And, when he isn’t working at Trendowski & Allen in Centerbrook, Conn., he has another avocation: He and his wife, Liz, rescue dogs, especially dachshunds, reports the Connecticut Law Tribune in an article reprinted in New York…

Oct 14, 2010 7:41 PM CDT