Flexible work practices pave the way to partnership
In 2021, Lander & Rogers appointed two new partners who work in a part-time job-share arrangement. Lawyers Amie Frydenberg and Emma Purdue, both part of Lander & Rogers’ Workplace Relations & Safety group, have leveraged the flexible model working three days per week since 2018.
Practically, it means each manages matters on their own two days a week, and work together on Wednesdays. Any urgent applications can be dealt with by whomever is working that day. It also gives the other a true day off, where they can fully focus on their other commitments. The arrangement has the added benefit of six days' coverage in five, coverage over leave periods and improved project management, which means greater responsiveness to clients' needs.
At the time of their promotion in 2021, 45% of Lander & Rogers' partners were female. Today that figure is 49% − the highest of any law firm of size based in Australia. Whilst this figure is above average for the legal industry, job-sharing partners is still quite unique.
Amie also notes that while 65% of law graduates are female-identifying, numbers have traditionally dropped considerably at the partner level, signalling a need for further change. She says, "the pandemic has potentially achieved more for flexible working than a decade of campaigning in this space, however, there's still more to be done".
Emma and Amie both admit they would not have made partner without the arrangement.
"I'd always aspired to be a partner but after I had small children it seemed out of reach… the responsibility of building a partnership and a practice seemed too much by myself. But now with my 'work wife' that seems achievable," said Emma.
Emma added, "We're not just advocating [for partnership] for ourselves - we're doing it to prove it's possible for everyone. We've received many messages of support from people who now see that partnership could be a realistic option for them too."