Saving money is the goal but the cost usually shows up in morale, particularly staff morale. Some of the tight-fistedness is somewhat short sighted and hurts morale and may affect recruiting. Strength in gender issues, especially in L.A. and employment Like other large firms, Paul Hastings can t claim to have very many women partners, although it has some very prominent ones, such as Nancy Abell. Firm insiders frequently praise their firm on this issue. In fact, it has been actively encouraged.
Insiders also say that the firm is currently looking into providing sick-child arrangements.
Because of the firm s employment law history, the firm tends to be very sensitive to women s issues, reports an insider in Atlanta. Women get three months paid maternity leave, and working part-time is an available option. A colleague from that office adds that roughly half of all associates are women. The numbers are improving every year in the partner ranks 50 percent of the new partners last year were women. The firm has an excellent maternity leave policy, and there is no real limit to additional time off thereafter.