Law Firm Retention and Advancement of Attorneys
Law firms, despite efforts over the last ten years to provide better maternity/paternity leave, part time schedules, and the like, are increasingly frustrated by the constant departure of their attorneys. Many perceive the departures to be mostly of women attorneys. Others believe the attrition results from generational differences and unwillingness to work the number and type of hours a private firm requires.
Various bars, firms, and organizations throughout the country have begun to study the issue of retention and advancement of attorneys. These studies, combined with our own observations, inspired Women Lawyers of Utah (WLU) to begin its own initiative to study the issue in Utah.
A Utah study is necessary to determine whether Utah is following the national trends in this area or if Utah has different issues altogether. As a general matter, Utah lacks significant data about the attorneys who make up the Bar. To get at whether an issue exists and what the parameters of the issue are, we decided to start with a survey.
We are surveying all people admitted to the Utah Bar between 1985 and 2005. The survey will be completely anonymous. It asks attorneys questions about their current and past job satisfaction, discrimination, and experience. Additionally attorneys are asked to provide basic information about themselves and their immediate families. People who complete the survey will be eligible to participate in a random drawing for 15 gift cards worth either $50 or $100.
In preparing this survey we have enlisted the help of Professor Vaughn Call from Brigham Young University to help make it statistically sound. The next step is up to you. Please complete the survey if you are in the target group. If you are not, please encourage anyone you know who is in the group to complete the survey. The validity of the survey depends on the number and quality of responses made to it.
Once the survey is complete, WLU will host two symposia to discuss the findings and develop proposed best practices to address the issues raised. The symposia will include experts to present the demographics, issues, and strategies both locally and nationally. We are particularly excited to have Cynthia Thomas Calvert, Assistant Director of the Project for Attorney Retention (PAR) participating in the symposia. PAR is an initiative at the University of California Hastings College of the Law that works to stem unwanted attrition of attorneys from law firms by promoting work/life balance.
Following the symposia, WLU will compile and publish a report of its findings both from the survey and the symposia. This report will assist law firms and lawyers with understanding what issues exist and what solutions are possible in choosing a career with a private firm.
To best address the problems and develop solutions that will help law firms retain and promote their best associates, we have drawn and continue to draw on the support of much of the legal community – the law firms, the law schools, the Bar. Additionally many individuals have given their personal time to make this initiative the best it can be. We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors, advisory board members and committee members.
The key to the success of this initiative is the honest sharing of ideas, experiences, and beliefs. Please be a part of it. If you would like to participate in this initiative, please contact Evelyn Furse at evefurse@yahoo.com or Melanie Vartabedian at VartabedianM@howrey.com.