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A survey conducted by InfoTrack and Janders Dean has found those in the legal profession believe women seriously disadvantage their careers by taking parental leave.
More than 75 per cent of respondents to the survey believe that female lawyers who take time off for motherhood are less likely to make partner than those that don’t.
“Absence from the career path is a disadvantage in terms of maintaining relationships with clients and within the firm, and less face time with management means that opportunities can be missed,” says one respondent to the survey.
A staggering 85 per cent also believe that more can be done to address gender diversity in the legal industry.
Respondents indicated a belief that while Australian firms have established a reputation for being gender-fair, the roles of women have been the first ones affected when costs need to be managed.
InfoTrack chief executive Stephen Wood noted that while gender issues were significant to the recent survey, results also indicated widespread dissatisfaction with technological efficiency and competitive pricing options.
“Whilst securing partnership for talented females who want both family and careers continues to haunt the profession, clearly there is growing recognition that technology and client demands for greater efficiency and productivity are and will continue to be the major drivers for innovation in law firms,” says Wood.
More than 50 per cent indicated a need to change technology solutions to enhance service delivery, and 50 per cent highlighted a lack of competitive and alternative pricing options which meet client needs and suit economic conditions.
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