Best Lawyers Features a Special National Report by Stephanie Scharf and Co-Authors, “Legal Careers of Parents and Child Caregivers.”

In a new Best Lawyers article, “Beyond the Billables,” attorney Michele Jochner profiled the groundbreaking national study, “Legal Careers of Parents and Child Caregivers,” conducted by Stephanie A. Scharf, Roberta D. Liebenberg, and Paulette Brown for the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession.

Ms. Jochner noted:

Stellar researchers Stephanie A. Scharf, Roberta D. Liebenberg, and former ABA President Paulette Brown surveyed more than 8,000 attorneys for their eye-opening report, “Legal Careers of Parents and Child Caregivers: Results and Best Practices from a National Study of the Legal Profession,” published in late 2023. The responses revealed that many parents of both genders suffered “caregiver bias” that negatively affected the trajectory of their careers after having children.

The article emphasizes the authors’  focus on how firms can take the findings of the report to craft common-sense, business-positive steps to support continuing professional growth while providing a positive atmosphere for lawyers who choose to be parents. This shift not only enhances client and lawyer satisfaction but also fosters long-term partnerships, positioning firms for sustained growth in a competitive market.

You can find more on “Legal Careers of Parents and Child Caregivers,” published by the American Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession, including access to the full report, here.