A Career in the Courtroom: A Different Model for the Success ... - DRI

6. Do/did you have regularly scheduled meetings to discuss your part-time arrangements?
7. Does/did your firm have adequate technological capabilities to allow you to work from home?
8. Does/did your firm allow you to keep your secretary? Please explain.
9. Did your quality of work change once you became part-time? Please explain.
10. Did your type of work change once you became part-time? Please explain.
11. Did your part-time status affect your working relationship with other attorneys? Please explain.
(e.g., partners question their commitment to the firm; viewed them as “partial member” of the
firm; some partners would not work with them; viewed as “marginal or problematic”; no longer
considered for trial teams)
12. Are part-time associates or counsel eligible for partnership? (Here, we may or may not want to ask
about the average difference in partnership track for full-time and part-time attorneys)
13. Are part-time attorneys eligible for end-of-year bonuses and other benefits of full-time attorneys?
14. Does the firm compensate over and above for part-time attorneys who have exceeded their agreedupon
schedule or hours?
15. Does the firm reimburse day care expenses when part-time attorneys are forced to work on nonscheduled
days?
16. As a part-time employee, do you feel you are involved with the firm and presented with opportunities
to participate in committees and management positions?
17. Did/does your part-time schedule affect your business development activities? Please explain.
18. Are you still working part-time in a firm?
19. If not, rank the following reasons why you have decided to leave your firm:
a. Inflexible schedule
b. Hours
c. Compensation
d. Partnership track is too long or nonexistent
e. Level of responsibility has changed
f. Leadership opportunities no longer available
g. Client contact has diminished
h. Type of work has changed
G. Interview questions for male defense trial lawyers
1. How many women trial attorneys in your firm are first chair trial lawyers?
a. What is your view about developing women attorneys into first chair trial lawyers?
2. What are the top three challenges facing women attorneys as defense trial counsel?
3. What reasons are there to make an effort for firms to put women on their trial teams?
4. What efforts does your law firm make in the promotion and partnership opportunities for women
trial lawyers?
5. Do you believe that there are retention problems in your firm with women trial attorneys? If so,
please explain.
6. What is your firm’s attitude about women trial attorneys working part time?
a. What can firms do to better accommodate women trial attorneys who want to work part time?
7. Do you believe women are given the same marketing opportunities in your firm as men?
8. Do you perceive that women attorneys are compensated less than male trial attorneys in your firm?
44 A Career in the Courtroom: A Different Model for the Success of Women Who Try Cases