After years of placing women on a different partnership track, paying them less than their male peers and banning them from leadership roles, law firms are enacting programs to retain talented women. In fact, career experts named law as one of top five most lucrative careers for women in a recent Payscale article, noting that women seeking partnership have more options as law firms grow more flexible.
Generous paid maternity leaves, greater leadership roles and more flexible work arrangements, including part-time and telecommuting, are a few current legal workplace trends that benefit women, especially those with young children.
In addition to more women-friendly opportunities in BigLaw, women are also finding opportunities in small law firms, corporate legal departments, legal aid and the government.