Hold Law Firm Partners Accountable for Attorney Retention and Attrition

Another attorney retention best practice identified by the Project for Attorney Retention ("PAR") is holding law firm partners accountable for attrition of associates.

The strategy has worked at companies outside the legal industry such as Ernst & Young where partner compensation is awarded based on, among other criteria, how effective individual partners have been at retaining the firm's talent by creating a flexible work environment. Regardless of the amount of business an individual partner has brought in, if their "People" score is low, their compensation will be reduced. The message is simple: bringing in work without being able to keep talented people on board does neither the client nor the firm any good.

Sidley Austin is one law firm that has gotten the message. In a recent interview with PAR, Maria Melendez, chair of Sidley's diversity commitee, shared that partners at the firm are asked to report on their efforts to retain and advance women (and minority) attorneys.

See further details here.