Gibson's Failing Grade

It was a postcard of an easygoing California law firm�open, family-friendly, and cool. The antithesis of an uptight Wall Street law firm. A snapshot, perhaps, of what the partners like to call “the Gibson, Dunn family.”

That image of a progressive law firm is more than a pose. Women at Gibson, Dunn have made a distinct mark, injecting a feminine consciousness to the high-power firm. Part-time work and flexible schedules have been institutionalized; what’s more, associates can take advantage of those programs without losing their place on the partnership track. Though women represent only 15 percent of the total partnership, they’ve averaged close to 40 percent of new partners at the firm for the last three years. They also have real power, serving on executive, management, and partner evaluation committees. All told, the firm has come a long way since the early fifties, when it rejected Stanford Law School grad Sandra Day O’Connor as an associate (the firm offered her a secretary job).