Law firms turning to a family-friendly culture to keep female attorneys, Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Times

September 27, 2008

Ann Marie Mortimer, managing partner of the firm's Los Angeles office, remarks that law firm culture is changing to be family-friendly to combat a high attrition rate of women in the profession. Law firms are beginning to realize how costly it is to lose and replace talented female attorneys. Much of the push is also coming from firm clients. As Mortimer explained: "Corporate clients are insisting that lawyers at the counsel table more closely represent people in the population -- the people you're going to be speaking to in a jury." She added, "There's nothing more insulting to a jury than seeing a woman there only to carry a briefcase."

Mortimer's practice focuses on product liability, environmental and toxic tort, and complex business transactions.