The law firm Mayer Brown has launched a series of Diversity Initiatives in its drive to bring more diversity and multicultural sensitivity to its offices. One of the major initiatives is Women’s Initiatives, which is steered by the Women’s Initiative Committee, made up of the top female lawyers of Mayer Brown.

Mayer Brown hosts an annual Women’s Symposiums, open to female lawyers and their clients. The symposium includes workshops, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and other presentations focused upon the development and leadership participation of women lawyers. Issues that are unique to female attorneys and clients are thoroughly discussed during these meetings.

One of the Women’s Symposium’s key highlights is the networking opportunities. Mayer Brown has partnered with women’s groups to hold networking events and educational workshops. These events not only help Mayer Brown attorneys better understand their clients’ needs, but also provides an opportunity for Mayer Brown’s women attorneys to showcase their legal talents and form strong relationships.

Mayer Brown works hard to accommodate its female lawyers, offering part-time work opportunities and back-up child care service. Mayer Brown has increased paid maternity and parental leave to 18 weeks, including medical leave. (These benefits also extend to adoptive parents). Mayer Brown also holds “coaching programs” to help parents return to work after these family-related leaves. Mayer Brown also provides up to six weeks paid leave for lawyers who need time to serve as a primary caregiver for elderly family members.

Mayer Brown wants women to remain in the legal field, so they are a founding member and sponsor of the Project for Attorney Retention (PAR), a group that promotes a healthy balance between work and life while assisting women in their legal careers.

More information about women in law and Mayer Brown:

• The Project of Attorney Retention was launched by the Center for WorkLife Law at the University of California Hastings College of Law.
• Martindale.com published Mayer Brown’s Diversity Profile
  Mayer Brown is involved in international arbitration.