Lawyer-Moms Say Flexible Policies Are Key to Success

Partners Namita Shah and Alexis Gettier are featured in an article, "Lawyer-Moms Say Flexible Policies Are Key to Success," published by the Connecticut Law Tribune. The article reports that while the percentage of women working in law continues to grow and law firms strive to accommodate lawyers who want to both work and raise families, Connecticut law firms are pointing out that flexibility is the key word to keep in mind when developing supportive policies.

Shah told the Connecticut Law Tribune she hopes most female attorneys do not feel the need to put off having children to further their careers. "I think these are very personal decisions, but I wouldn't like to see this as a trend because women think having children is going to interfere with their careers. Women will always have children, and they shouldn't feel like they have to postpone it."

Shah, who has three children, discovered she was pregnant just as she was being offered a partnership at Day Pitney. "At first I felt like I needed to apologize, but the partnership went forward, and it was fine—it wasn't an issue," she said. "No apology was necessary." In fact, leadership at the firm went out of its way to be supportive, she said.

She also stressed the importance of law firms staying committed to attorneys who want to have children. "I feel like there is a sense in some people's minds that diversity is just talk," she said. "It's a good message, but firms have to back it up with action. Firms have to continue to make women partners and continue showing that women who have children can be in management. That is going to speak more than just the line that we support diversity and we support women."

As noted in the article, Day Pitney also provides support for working mothers, making it easier for attorneys like Alexis Gettier to decide to be a working mom and a law partner. "I have felt so supported as a woman and as a mother here," she said. "The word on the street is that Day Pitney is ahead of the curve on these things, and other firms are clearly looking to us as an example of what they should be doing for their employees."