What Women (Lawyers) Want
Have law firms finally got the answer…?
A new survey of female solicitors by the Association of Women Solicitors and King’s College London has shown that 80% experience ‘real enjoyment’ in their jobs.
But before you get all excited by the idea law firms have cracked the code men have failed to crack since life began, it’s not all hunky dory.
The survey also showed that women solicitors believe their careers will be damaged if they take up more flexible working arrangements. Which is unfortunate for the likes of Allen & Overy who have made much of their flexi-schemes – aimed primarily at encouraging women to stick it out to partnership.
Half the interviewees believe lawyers working flexibly were viewed as less serious about their careers, and 44% claimed it had a negative impact on lawyers’ promotion prospects. Women who had use flexi-working perceived significantly fewer opportunities for promotion and more job insecurity.
Commenting on the findings, professor Janet Walsh of King’s College said: “There is a perception among some women solicitors that law firms pay lip service to work-life policies”.
Whatever gave them that idea.
March 25, 2010
We are paid to put clients first, before ourselves.
That’s the nature of the profession. If people don’t like it (men or women), then they should simply leave the profession, and stop complaining about it. Don’t blame the firms!
March 25, 2010
So women are generally happy in their jobs but insecure at the same time. Doesn’t that apply to most lawyers, men included?
I think the survey shows something most men know. Women don’t really know what they want. But somehow they expect men to work it out.
March 25, 2010
Working for law firms is not meant to be a holiday camp and yes sometimes it is miserable. Other than addressing genuine issues of discrimination what more do people want FFS?
March 25, 2010
People always complain about their lot and expect someone else to be responsible for improving it so law firms only have themselves to blame on this one.
Work-life balance used to be (and largely still is) BS spun by PR departments to deceive naive newcomers and enhance firms’ external image. But now it’s allied to anti-discrimnatory legislation the chicken is coming home to roost. Firms are just waking up to this either because they see a genuine benefit to being progressive, hmmmm, or more likely because they want to stay ahead of the positive PR curve and avoid fallout.
Talk about creating a rod for your own back.