This article from Lawtimes.com, once again from our astute across the border, details a creative attempt to slow down the exodus of women attorneys from the legal profession.
A few excerpts:
For as little as $15 a year from each member, the Law Society of Upper Canada could make it easier for female lawyers to remain in the profession while balancing family demands, says a report from the retention of women in private practice working group...
The report includes two potentially groundbreaking proposals: the creation of a parental-leave program for sole and small-firm practitioners that would give recipients up to $9,000 over three months, and a locum service that would keep practices running while lawyers are on parental leave...
The report outlines some of the challenges female lawyers face. It notes that the demands of a career in law often clash with family life, and that conflict is the biggest reason why lawyers leave the profession. Childbirth and parenting responsibilities are the most pressing challenges for females. Women now represent 50 per cent or more of law school graduates in Ontario, according to the report.
In 2001, women represented about 51 per cent of Ontario’s population, while female lawyers at that time made up 32 per cent of the legal profession and 24 per cent of lawyers in private practice. Women currently represent 37 per cent of the legal profession and 28 per cent of the lawyers in private practice, according to the report...
“A shift in thinking is required both on the part of associates and on the part of the employers/firms,” says the report. “This shift would recognize the biological reality of an associate’s child-bearing years, for which some accommodation is required, the long-term nature of a career in private practice, and the economic realities of operating a law firm.”
Firms participating in the Justicia Pilot Project will be asked to collect demographic information about their lawyers and develop pilot programs, such as maternity/parental leaves and flexible work arrangements; encouraging networking and business development; and mentoring and appointing women to leadership positions...
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