Work/Life Programming
Work/Life Programming
We recognize that integrating the demands of professional and personal life can be challenging at times, and we want our lawyers to enjoy fulfillment in both arenas. That is why we offer a solid support system and extensive work/life benefits. The Firm is also engaged in an ongoing conversation about the practices that will best allow our lawyers to fully engage in both their careers and their personal lives.
Balance For All
All our lawyers—regardless of circumstances—have obligations and interests outside of work. We want everyone at the Firm to have a fulfilling personal life and maintain their health, family ties, friendships and overall well-being. To that end, we offer our employees support throughout their life stages, whether they are buying a home, caring for a pet or participating in a community-service project.
Financial Support
To assist our attorneys as they pursue financial goals, such as buying a home, Cravath has entered banking partnerships that offer support and discounts. The Chase Manhattan Preferred Mortgage Program is an exclusive program designed to save employees time and money when purchasing a home or refinancing the mortgage on their current residences. The innovative program offers personalized service, a wide array of products and money-saving discounts not available to the general public.
Community Participation
In addition to encouraging our lawyers’ personal interests, Cravath offers many opportunities to participate in community service activities through the Firm, including the annual March of Dimes of Walk, the reading-mentorship program Read Ahead and The Fresh Air Fund’s “Counselor For a Day” program. The Firm also works with students from The Brooklyn School for Law & Justice high school throughout the year on activities like mock trials and SAT preparation. In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the Firm hosts a virtual service initiative with Food Bank For New York City, a nonprofit dedicated to ending food poverty in our five boroughs since 1983.
Health and Well-Being
As part of our continued focus on supporting our attorneys, we signed onto the American Bar Association’s Well‑Being Pledge. This pledge is a collaborative effort across legal employers that expressly reinforces our belief that our attorneys’ well‑being is of the utmost importance. From bringing in outside speakers who address well‑being from a variety of perspectives to incorporating a number of events that focus on physical fitness and self‑care, we want our attorneys to lead healthy and mindful lives. For example, we have brought in a speaker to present to the Firm on the topic of mindfulness; a psychology professor and expert in behavioral change, who shared insights and research regarding scientifically‑validated strategies for living a more satisfying life; and a lawyer and licensed and board‑certified alcohol and drug counselor who discussed the issue of substance use and mental health challenges in the legal profession and offered strategies for protecting personal well‑being during stressful times.
All employees and their families have no-cost access to a meditation app and a digital library, which features more than 50 different on-demand classes and the opportunity to participate in live classes at their convenience any time or day.
The Firm subsidizes gym memberships. Cravath also participates in the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge road race.
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a confidential 24/7 service provided at no cost to employees and their household members. Services range from face-to-face counseling for both work and personal concerns to finding an apartment to identifying elder care help.
Generous Paid Leave
For all lawyers, we provide twelve weeks of paid child care leave following the birth (including by surrogate), adoption or foster care placement of a child. For lawyers who give birth, this leave is in addition to six to eight weeks of paid pregnancy and childbirth‑related medical leave, resulting in up to 18 to 20 weeks of paid leave benefits following the birth of a child.
An Ongoing Dialogue
On a regular basis, we host informational sessions to ensure that members of the Firm are fully informed about—and encouraged to use—the work/life benefits we offer. Most recently, one of our attorneys presented on the topic of buying a home and included discussion about Firm benefits that support housing purchases. We also host a panel that includes a discussion of the Firm’s many programs that relate to becoming a parent, working an alternative schedule and other programs and benefits that support associates throughout their time at the Firm.
The Working Parents Group
In 2007, a small group of associates began meeting to discuss their experiences as parents at the Firm, exchanging information and insights about balancing career and family, child care arrangements and working part-time. Since then, membership has grown significantly, as parents, and those who are considering becoming parents, offer each other ongoing peer support and informal networking.
Our Working Parents Group is an increasingly important resource across the Firm and remains active through monthly lunches and programming focused on the experiences of caregivers and work-life balance.
Most recently, the Group hosted two seminars. In September, the Group hosted a “Raising Inclusive Children” presentation, conducted by a leading expert on development psychology, focusing on child development. The presentation addressed how to start difficult conversations with children as well as how to combat media and other outlets of influences that are not aligned with inclusive values. In October, the Group hosted a “Family Life: The Juggling Act” seminar, with an executive coach and expert on working parenthood. The seminar provided attendees strategies to add balance, reduce stress and manage their obligations more effectively.
Religious Observance
The Firm strives to maintain an environment that enables our attorneys to engage in religious observance and practice. For example, to help an associate practice their faith during business hours, we created a quiet space for reflection and prayer, which is available to any employee. Additionally, each lawyer is entitled to use personal time, not charged to vacation time, for religious observance.
