Paid Leaves for Parent Lawyers Increased

A great number of major law firms in the country have increased their paid maternity leaves for lawyers and associates who become new parents. Reports said data gathered from a survey revealed the growing trend in many law firms, which have increased the leave period from 12 to 18 weeks.

As this developed, many firms have also increased their paid paternity leave periods, especially for fathers who became the main caregivers to their wives. The change has also affected adoptive parents who are normally given 4 weeks but who can now enjoy 10 weeks of paid leave period.

The move is seen as a significant change in the parental policies of most law firms in the country. Administrators and lawyers of the firms, which adopted the new policy, however, denied, the new benefits were meant to replace salaries increases. They said the new program was designed to attract and retain associates, particularly women who are steadily leaving the profession.

"Firms follow because they're trying to be competitive," said one partner and law firm owner. "It was something we thought was important and wanted to do, so we could be a market leader."

The changes were also made in recognition of today’s new type of families.

"We felt strongly that the challenges you face when you've got a new child in the home don't depend a whole lot on how the child got there," a law firm director said. "Whether the child was born to one of the parents in the home or adopted, you still face an awful lot of the same issues."