Nurseries keep parents practising

Spencer Becker Gallant, the newborn son of a Washington-based lawyer at Chadbourne & Parke, last week joined the growing band of babies being brought up in law firm nurseries as the US moves ahead of the UK in offering women lawyers the chance to combine work with family.

The US law firm has converted the office next door to that of Spencer's mother, corporate partner Barbara Becker, into a fully furnished nursery complete with playpen, crib and toys, and a computer and television set for the nanny.

To breastfeed her baby, all Ms Becker has to do is stroll into the next door office - and she can get e-mail reminders at feeding time.

Chadbourne & Parke's operations partner, Charles O'Neill, said the firm is propagating the message that parenting and practising can co-exist.

It has a teleworking project finance partner and partners working flexi-time because they are mothers.

It also recently promoted a part-time corporate associate to partnership.

Mrs Becker, who wanted to return to work before her second child was three months old, said: 'Clients are thrilled when they find out the firm provided a nursery for my baby.'Susan Pape, chairwoman of the Association of Women Solicitors, said she would like to see UK law firms doing more for working mothers.

'I think it is an excellent idea.

If you know that your child is properly cared for it takes the pressure off you,' she said.

Chadbourne & Parke is one of a growing number of US firms to devise ways to nurture its women lawyers with families.

In 1995, Arnold & Porter became the first law firm to set up an on-site childcare centre for all staff.

The creche is big enough to house 50 children.

Arnold & Porter is the only law firm on the 'Mother 100' list of the US companies backing working mothers.But UK law firms lag behind.

At best, some firms outsource support functions as part of a benefits package.

The London office of Arnold & Porter has just signed up to Life Works, a company which offers both parents ante-natal care and already works with Charles Russell - the first UK firm to offer such support (see [2000] Gazette, 31 March, 8).

Last week it emerged that for the first time, women law students outnumber their male counterparts in the US, a situation that has existed in the UK for some years.

Anne Mizzi