Baker & McKenzie is pleased to announce that Working Mother magazine named it one of the 2007 Working Mother & Flex-Time Lawyers Best Law Firms for Women. This recognition is the magazine’s first-of-its-kind initiative honoring trailblazers in work-life balance and women. The Firm is among fifty other law firms, selected from more than 100 applicants, recognized for its commitment to diversity and the advancement of women in the legal industry.
“We would like to thank Working Mother for this wonderful recognition, and are proud to be acknowledged for our ongoing efforts in creating and maintaining a work environment that helps our lawyers and staff balance both family and work lives,” said John Conroy, Chairman of the Executive Committee. “Baker & McKenzie has a unique multicultural heritage and commitment that embraces the importance of diversity and women in the legal industry.”
The Firm ranked ‘above average’ in five of the six criteria used to select the top law firms. These include flexibility, workforce profile, benefits and compensation, parental leave and related benefits and policies, and retention and advancement of women. The Firm ranked ‘average’ for its child care benefits.
“Since its founding, Working Mother magazine has been the champion of progressive, women-friendly changes in the workplace,” said Carol Evans, CEO, Working Mother Media. “Every year we see substantive advances in companies’ policies across the country, and we are so excited to be able to pair with Flex-Time Lawyers to celebrate change in a field that has historically struggled to support women and their life choices. I commend Baker & McKenzie for taking the lead for women lawyers.”
Some of the benefits Baker & McKenzie provides its lawyers and staff include flexible schedules; telecommuting arrangements; and paid maternity, paternity and adoption leave. These and other policies have enabled working mothers to devote time to their families while advancing a legal career. The Firm in some of its offices also celebrates a “Bring your Child to Work Day” and a “Children’s Holiday Party” each year.
Some of Baker & McKenzie’s offices have established Women’s Attorney Steering Committees to organize educational and social luncheons and other events for women attorneys. These group efforts have enabled women of the Firm to form lasting support networks that aid in the development of leadership and business development skills.
Commenting on the recognition, David Hackett, North American Managing Partner, added: “Baker & McKenzie appreciates the need to provide flexible work environments for our lawyers. Some of our lawyers work from home, some work reduced schedules, others take a year off for personal reasons but return to Baker & McKenzie on-track for partnership. They coach sports teams, volunteer at school, and contribute to their communities, while remaining successful, committed and valued lawyers at our Firm.”
The application and evaluation process for the 2007 Working Mother & Flex-Time Lawyers Best Law Firms for Women initiative was developed in a partnership by Working Mother magazine and Flex-Time Lawyers LLC and based on Working Mother’s annual 100 Best Companies.
The complete list of the 2007 Working Mother & Flex-Time Lawyers Best Law Firms for Women can be found in the August/September issue of Working Mother magazine and at www.workingmother.com and www.flextimelawyers.com.
Earlier this year, MultiCultural Law magazine named Baker & McKenzie one of the “Top 100 Law Firms for Diversity.” In 2005, the Firm was also named one of the “Top 20 Workplaces for Women in Mexico” by Mujer Ejecutiva.
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