Maternity Leave in Law Firms

[Anonymous]

I'm trying to figure out whether my firm's new maternity leave policy is at all close to current market policies. If you're an area attorney, would you mind giving me the general terms of the maternity leave your firm offers? I'm particularly interested in the weeks of paid leave and whether that includes your vacation and sick days. Thanks so much!

[Anonymous]

I got 12 weeks paid through a short term disability policy, no vacation or sick days, it was standard. Got an additional 4 weeks unpaid guaranteed (required in DC). It is also typical in my (large) firm for people to take an additional few months unpaid, especially if it is slow and many come back 4 days per week or work from home one day. My firm buys a certain number of the disability policies each year, I'd imagine it would complicate things to factor in vacation or sick days.

What are they offering?

[Anonymous]

18 weeks paid, not including sick/vacation days.

[Anonymous]

18 weeks paid, then you can take vacation, then many people take unpaid leave.

[Anonymous]

At two large law firms I worked at, I got 12 weeks paid.... Then usually you could take additional unpaid leave or use your annual leave for additional paid time off.

I'm really suprised to hear firms are offering 18 weeks paid now... that sounds rich. Anyone care to divulge which firms are doing that? A&P perhaps?

[Anonymous]

For employees (secretaries, admin staff and such) no maternity leave at all. Only short term disability and vacation/sick leave.

For associates 4 moths paid, then vacation and sick.

For partners 6 moths paid, then vacation and sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At two large law firms I worked at, I got 12 weeks paid.... Then usually you could take additional unpaid leave or use your annual leave for additional paid time off.

I'm really suprised to hear firms are offering 18 weeks paid now... that sounds rich. Anyone care to divulge which firms are doing that? A&P perhaps?

Most top-tier firms are -- it was one of the big perks expanded in 2007-08 before the market tanked. I bet firms wish they could take it back!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For employees (secretaries, admin staff and such) no maternity leave at all. Only short term disability and vacation/sick leave.

For associates 4 moths paid, then vacation and sick.

For partners 6 moths paid, then vacation and sick.

That figures. Give the people that make five times more money paid time off. That'll teach those underlings not to procreate.

[Anonymous]

HUGE difference between partners and not. I think they will see through that one, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For employees (secretaries, admin staff and such) no maternity leave at all. Only short term disability and vacation/sick leave.

For associates 4 moths paid, then vacation and sick.

For partners 6 moths paid, then vacation and sick.

That figures. Give the people that make five times more money paid time off. That'll teach those underlings not to procreate.

Those people getting more leave make money for the firm. The staff doesn't bring any money in; they are only an expense. Sorry, but that is just the reality.

[Anonymous]

At my small firm I got 12 weeks paid and was allowed to take additional time off without pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For employees (secretaries, admin staff and such) no maternity leave at all. Only short term disability and vacation/sick leave.

For associates 4 moths paid, then vacation and sick.

For partners 6 moths paid, then vacation and sick.

That figures. Give the people that make five times more money paid time off. That'll teach those underlings not to procreate.

Those people getting more leave make money for the firm. The staff doesn't bring any money in; they are only an expense. Sorry, but that is just the reality.

Come on--this is such an elitist attitude. If it's all about making money, then get rid of the staff and see what your clients say when you try to charge them for you doing all the things the secretary and admin staff do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For employees (secretaries, admin staff and such) no maternity leave at all. Only short term disability and vacation/sick leave.

For associates 4 moths paid, then vacation and sick.

For partners 6 moths paid, then vacation and sick.

That figures. Give the people that make five times more money paid time off. That'll teach those underlings not to procreate.

Those people getting more leave make money for the firm. The staff doesn't bring any money in; they are only an expense. Sorry, but that is just the reality.

Come on--this is such an elitist attitude. If it's all about making money, then get rid of the staff and see what your clients say when you try to charge them for you doing all the things the secretary and admin staff do.

NPer but where's the attitude? Of course this is true. Certainly takes more time/money/trust to replace a partner than a staff member. Of course the firm wants to keep the partner more.

[Anonymous]

At my medium-sized firm there was no policy. No paid leave, nothing. Luckily, I was able to accrue enough vacation/sick to take the 3 months plus.

[Anonymous]

NPer but where's the attitude? Of course this is true. Certainly takes more time/money/trust to replace a partner than a staff member. Of course the firm wants to keep the partner more.

Actually that's not entirely true. Lawyers are a dime/dozen in DC. Just kidding of course.

Of course we know it's true. But my baby is just as precious to me as that partner's is to her. The firm could afford for me to stay out for 4 months easily. They just don't want to.