Law firms have upped the ante on paid maternity leave: three firms have announced in the past week that they will increase paid maternity leave to 18 weeks for primary carers.

Allens Arthur Robinson, Freehills and Corrs Chambers Westgarth have all announced that, from 1 January next year, full-time carers will receive 18 weeks fully paid maternity leave. This represents a four- week increase on the previous allowance. Minter Ellison has increased it’s fully paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 14 weeks, also from 1 January. 

Staff at Allens will need to have worked at the firm for five years to qualify for the paid maternity leave, while those at Corrs and Freehills need to have worked only one year before they are eligible. Non-primary carers will also qualify for three weeks’ paid leave at all three firms.

Freehills CEO Gavin Bell said the firm’s decision to increase the paid maternity leave period was assisted by the Federal Government Paid Parental Leave Scheme. The updated policy is inclusive of the new Federal Government Scheme, which offers a minimum wage to qualifying parents for 18 weeks.