PAR | About Us

PAR’s Board of Advisors

Mary Cranston
Partner, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

M. Carter DeLorme
Partner, Jones Day

Jeffrey Gearhart
EVP and General Counsel, Walmart Stores, Inc.

Susan Hackett
General Counsel, Corporate Counsel Association

Joan Haratani
Partner, Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

Helise Harrington
Partner, Sonnenshein, Nath, & Rosenthal LLP

Alison Hooker
Transactions Advisory Services, Global People Leader, Ernst & Young, LLP

Catherine A. Lamboley
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Shell Oil (ret.)

Gerry Lowry
Partner, Fulbright & Jaworski LLP

Anthony Lupo
Partner, Arent Fox LLP

Lisa A. Madden
Partner, KPMG LLP

Maureen McGinnity
Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP

Michael Nannes
Managing Partner, Dickstein Shapiro LLP

Linda Oliver
Partner, Hogan & Hartson LLP

Monica Parham
Partner, Crowell & Moring LLP

James Potter
Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary, Del Monte Foods Company

Thomas Sager
SVP and General Counsel, DuPont Company

James Sandman
General Counsel, D.C. Public Schools

Douglas G. Scrivner
General Counsel and Compliance Officer, Accenture

Mara Senn
Partner, Arnold & Porter LLP

Click here to read the press release about the Advisory Council

PAR is an initiative of the Center for WorkLife Law at the University of California Hastings College of the Law (formerly the Program on Gender, Work and Family at American University Washington College of Law). It is funded by PAR members and individual supporters.

Balanced Hours PAR began operations in 2000 with a grant to study part-time work at law firms in the District of Columbia and develop best practices recommendations. The report, Balanced Hours, was issued in 2001 and has been reprinted, cited, and quoted extensively. PAR’s co-directors have given dozens of presentations to bar associations, law firms, and professional conferences about the findings and recommendations of the law firm study.

PAR also completed a study of work/life issues in corporate law departments. It issued its interim report, Caveat Counselor, in April 2003, and its final report and best practices recommendations, Better on Balance?, in December 2003.

PAR’s Co-Directors wrote Solving the Part-Time Puzzle: The Law Firm’s Guide to Balanced Hours, a book that provides a nuts and bolts discussion of how to set up and implement an effective part-time program that is designed to attract and retain top legal talent. The book was published by NALP in 2004. A companion book for attorneys who are working or want to work part-time will also be published in 2010.

Meet PAR’s Director, Joan Williams, Vice President, Manar Morales, Director of Research, Cynthia Thomas Calvert, Assistant Director, Natalie Hiott-Levine, and Director of Special Projects, Linda Marks.

What are Balanced Hours?

"Balanced hours" programs, unlike traditional part-time programs, allow attorneys to work individually-tailored, reduced schedules that are designed to meet the firm's business needs while maintaining the attorney's ability to work and to develop professionally without stigma. Balanced hours programs involve active management of workloads in proportion to reduced hours, emphasize client service, and promote the values of the firm.

Best Practices

PAR's research has resulted in a set of best practices for law firms that want to have good balanced hour programs that are effective retention and recruitment tools. New best practices will be posted from time to time -- check back often! Read PAR's Best Practices

New Models of Legal Practice

Does law have to be practiced in 60-hour work weeks in a small office downtown? Read about the unique and creative ways these "new model" firms have structured their work to maximize productivity and achieve balance. Read about the New Models of Legal Practice.

PAR Consultants

Need some help with balanced hours at your firm? PAR has consultants who are available to work with you. Click here for more information.