Of the many "best" law firms for women compilations, I find the Women in Law Empowerment Forum's annual list one of the meatiest. It's no-nonsense, focusing solely on how women fare in the power and money departments. It doesn't cover which firms offer the widest selection of affinity groups, the most creative alternative work arrangements or the best lactation rooms. It's all about business, baby.
So are women making it, according to the latest WILEF list? Well, it's a mixed bag. I see no reason for despair, but there's not much call to break out the champagne, either. The discouraging news is that fewer firms qualified for WILEF's Gold Standard Certification this year (42 firms, whereas 50 did so last year). The ameliorating factor is that WILEF tightened its standards.
