By Annie Dang

Mallesons may have recently increased its paid parental leave allowance from 12 to 14 weeks, but other top firms may not be too far behind in implementing more generous policies of their own. Minter Ellison, Clayton Utz, Blake Dawson and Freehills are all currently in the process of reviewing their parental leave policies. However, the reviews are  in response to recent legislative changes, rather than an attempt to keep up with Mallesons.

“Like all other organisations in Australia, Freehills is assessing the very recent changes to parental leave and flexible working conditions,” said Freehills People & Development Director, Gareth Bennett.“We are also working with our clients in assessing best practice and likely responses across a range of sectors. Especially in the context of uncertainty around the election, the detail of the legislation remains to be finalised.”

Under the new  Mallesons family leave provisions,  female staff will be entitled to 14 weeks paid maternity leave, 2 weeks more than what other major firms are offering.  The firm has also reduced the qualifying periods, allowing the maternity leave to accrue in stages, which means 14 weeks paid maternity leave will be available after 12 months of employment. 

Meanwhile, the media team at Corrs have been somewhat miffed at claims that Mallesons is leading the top tier in parental leave allowances, pointing out that Corrs has  offered  14 weeks paid parental leave for employees with at least 18 months’ continuous service  and has had this policy since 2005 .  Whether or not Mallesons can be said to be leading the "top tier" may well depend on that sticky question of whether Corrs is to be included in this esteemed category. “We are delighted that Mallesons is following our lead,” said Corrs HR Director, Alexis Navie. “There is no doubt that if more law firms would take this issue seriously the challenge of retaining senior women in the industry would improve.”

According to figures released to ALB, the uptake of paid parental leave at Corrs has more than doubled in the past four years. The firm has recorded a 6.2% increase in the number of lawyers having taken paid parental leave, from 4.5% in  the  2005-06 financial year to 10.7% in  the 2009-10 financial year , or a rise from 14 lawyers to 39 lawyers.