(September 15, 2008) Ropes & Gray has a long track record of recruiting top-flight legal talent. Recognizing that some of these talented young lawyers struggle to balance the sometimes-conflicting demands of work and family life, the firm has launched an innovative new initiative as part of its effort to help reduce that conflict and retain these young professionals.
   
Today, Ropes & Gray formally launches Impact, an enlightened approach to expanding the alternative work arrangements and long-term career growth options for associates and counsel at the firm. Designed to accommodate the times when the demands of personal and professional obligations can often collide, Impact provides creative, flexible options for allowing associates to achieve professional goals at a more individualized pace.
  
"We want our talented associates to pursue their legal career s at Ropes & Gray, and we’re putting the energy and commitment of the firm behind doing whatever we can to make that happen," said Boston partner Joshua Levy, the co-chair of the firm's Impact Committee. "Impact demonstrates the firm's commitment to helping associates develop individualized plans that help them balance their careers and their family commitments."
  
With Impact, attorneys who want to adjust their schedule for family, health or similar needs now have a flexible framework for building a long and fulfilling career at Ropes & Gray. That framework includes several options for eligible attorneys:

• an alternative (reduced) time commitment for a short or long period;
• a flexible approach to working off-site and to managing the traditional work day to accommodate childcare and other responsibilities;
• a different pace to partnership; or
• some combination of those options.

"The work at a firm like Ropes & Gray is highly rewarding, but it can be a challenge to balance work and family obligations while, say, raising young children," noted Gaby Higgins, a Palo Alto partner and co-chair of the Impact Committee. "I'm very pleased that I was able to work a reduced-time schedule to spend time with my children before becoming a partner here last year. With the Impact initiative, even more associates, we hope, will have the opportunity to develop individualized plans that work for them and the firm."
   
The Impact program also recognizes the challenges faced by an attorney returning from parental leave. Any such attorney may develop an alternative (reduced) work schedule for the six-months following their leave, helping them to adjust at their own pace to the work schedule they intend to keep over the long term.
  
The Impact program will be administered by Margie Boone, the firm’s Career Guidance Manager and Impact coordinator. After conferring with Margie, attorneys will work closely with the Impact Committee and their practice group leader or department head to craft an individualized plan that meets their particular circumstances and fits the needs of the firm and Ropes & Gray's clients.

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