![Vacation and leave policies are important benefits to consider when choosing a law firm. Vacation and leave policies are important benefits to consider when choosing a law firm.](https://www.lawcrossing.com/images/articleimages/Vacation-and-leave-policies-are-important-benefits-to-consider-when-choosing-a-law-firm.jpg)
This chart covers maternity leave, paternity leave, and vacation policies at the top law firms in the United States, including whether or not the firm also gives the same rights to same sex couples. Areas of the chart that are blank are where the data couldn't be found for that law firm.
Use this chart to help you choose a law firm if you are a recent law graduate. It can also help you in switching firms if you are a seasoned attorney looking to make a lateral move.
Law Firm Vacation and Leave Policy | Vacation | Is there paid maternity leave? | Is there paid paternity leave? | Are adoption fees covered? | Do gay couples get equal benefits? |
Cleary | 4 weeks (5 weeks after four years' employment) | 18 weeks if primary caregiver | 10 weeks if primary caregiver, 5 weeks if secondary caregiver | ||
Clifford Chance | 4 weeks | 18 weeks | 8 weeks if primary caregiver, 4 weeks if secondary caregiver | y | |
Cooley | 4 weeks | 18 weeks if primary caregiver | 4 weeks if secondary caregiver | y | |
Cravath | 4 weeks | 20 weeks if primary caregiver, 12 weeks if adoptive primary caregiver | 12 weeks if primary caregiver | ||
Crowell & Moring | Unlimited | 18 weeks | 4 weeks | y | |
Curtis | 4 weeks | 12 weeks | 2 weeks | ||
Davis Polk | 4 weeks (5 weeks after five years' employment) | 18 weeks | 10 weeks | ||
Debevoise | 4 weeks | 18 weeks (and 2 weeks prebirth leave) | 10 weeks if primary caregiver, 4 weeks if secondary caregiver | y | |
Dechert | 4 weeks | 18 weeks if primary caregiver, 4 weeks if secondary caregiver | 18 weeks if primary caregiver, 4 weeks if secondary caregiver | y | |
DLA Piper | Unlimited | 18 weeks | 4 weeks | y | |
Duane Morris | 4 weeks | 13 weeks | 1 week | ||
Dykema | Unlimited | 12 weeks | 6 weeks | y | |
Epstein Becker & Green | 4 weeks maximum | 6-12 weeks (after 1 year's service) | 1-2 weeks after one year's service | ||
Finnegan | Unlimited | 18 weeks | 12 weeks | y | |
Fish & Richardson | Unlimited | 16 weeks | 8 weeks | ||
Fitzpatrick | 4 weeks | 12 weeks | 2 weeks | y | |
Foley & Lardner | 3 weeks (less than 8 years), 4 weeks (more than 8 years) | 18 weeks if primary caregiver, 12 weeks if secondary caregiver | 10 weeks if primary caregiver, 4 weeks if secondary caregiver | $5,000 | y |
Fox Rothschild | 4 weeks | 12 weeks | 2 weeks | No, but paid leave is provided | y |
Freshfields | 5.2 weeks | 12 weeks (additional 12 weeks half salary for attorneys who have been with firm for 15 months plus) | 2 weeks | y | |
Fried Frank | 4 weeks | 18 weeks | 10 weeks | y | |
Gibbons | 3 weeks | 12 weeks | 12 weeks | ||
Gibson Dunn | Unlimited | 18 weeks if primary caregiver | 10 weeks if primary caregiver | y | |
Goodwin Procter | 4 weeks | 18 weeks if primary caregiver | 10 weeks if primary caregiver, 4 weeks if secondary caregiver | ||
Hangley | 4 weeks | 18 weeks | 2 weeks | ||
Haynes and Boone | 10 days (less than 3 years), 15 days (3-7 years), 20 days (7 years plus) | 12 weeks (after 1 year's service) | 4 weeks (after 1 year's service) | ||
Hogan Lovells | 4 weeks | 18 weeks if primary caregiver | 10 weeks if primary caregiver | $5,000 (lifetime maximum $10,000) | y |
Holland |
4 weeks | 16 weeks | 6 weeks | y | |
Hunton & Williams | 4 weeks | 18 weeks | 2 weeks | $5,000 | |
Irell & Manella | 4 weeks | 18 weeks | 4 weeks | y | |
Jackson Walker | Unlimited | 12 weeks | Unofficial; arranged with department | ||
Jenner & Block | 3 weeks | 12 weeks (plus short-term disability) | 6 weeks | y | |
Jones Day | 4 weeks | 12 weeks | 4 weeks | ||
K&L Gates | 3-4 weeks | 12 weeks | 6 weeks | y | |
Kasowitz | 4 weeks | 12 weeks | 0 | y | |
Katten Muchin | Unlimited | 12 weeks | 2 weeks | y | |
Kaye Scholer | 4 weeks | 18 weeks | 4 weeks | y | |
King & Spalding | 4 weeks | 12 weeks if primary caregiver | 12 weeks if primary caregiver | ||
Kirkland & Ellis | Unlimited | 16 weeks | 10 weeks | y | |
Kramer Levin | 4 weeks | 18 weeks if primary caregiver, 14 weeks if secondary caregiver | 8 weeks if primary caregiver, 4 weeks if secondary caregiver | y | |
Latham & Watkins | Unlimited | 18 weeks if primary caregiver | 4 weeks if secondary caregiver | y | |
Linklaters | 22 days | 18 weeks if primary caregiver | 18 weeks if primary caregiver, 2 weeks if secondary caregiver | y | |
Mayer Brown | Unlimited | 18 weeks | 6 weeks | ||
McGuireWoods | 3 weeks | 18 weeks | 6 weeks | $5,000 | y |
McKenna Long & Aldridge | Unlimited | 12 weeks | 4 weeks | y | |
Milbank | 4 weeks, 21 days (LA office) | 18 weeks | 18 weeks | y | |
Morgan Lewis | 4 weeks | 16 weeks if primary caregiver, 12 weeks if secondary caregiver | 8 weeks if primary caregiver, 4 weeks if secondary caregiver | ||
MoFo | Unlimited | 18 weeks | 10 weeks | ||
Munger | Unlimited | 16 weeks | 4 weeks | y | |
Nixon Peabody | 4 weeks | Up to $7,500 | |||
Nutter | 4 weeks | 12 weeks | 12 weeks | ||
O'Melveny & Myers | 3-4 weeks depending on seniority and location | 18 weeks | 6 weeks | y | |
Orrick | Unlimited | 18 weeks | 4 weeks | Yes, in states that do not recognize same-sex marriages | |
Patterson Belknap | 4 weeks | 18 weeks | 4 weeks | y | |
Patton Boggs | 6 weeks | 18 weeks | 5 weeks | y | |
Paul, Weiss | 4 weeks | 18 weeks | 4 weeks | y | |
Pepper Hamilton | 4 weeks | 12 weeks | 6 weeks | ||
Perkins Coie | Unlimited | 12 weeks | 4 weeks (8 weeks for primary caregiver adoption) | $5,000 | y |
Pillsbury | 4 weeks | 12 weeks | 6 weeks | y | |
Proskauer | 4 weeks | 18 weeks | 4 weeks | $5,000 | y |
Quinn Emanuel | Starts at 3 weeks | 16 weeks full time, primary caregiver | 3 days | ||
Reed Smith | 3 weeks (0-3 years from law school). 4 weeks (4 years plus from law school) | 12 weeks (including 6 weeks of disability) | 6 weeks | y | |
Ropes & Gray | 4 weeks | 18 weeks | 4 weeks | Yes, in states that do not recognize same-sex marriages | |
Schiff Hardin | 4 weeks minimum | 18 weeks | 4 weeks | $5,000 | y |
Sedgwick | Undisclosed | 16 weeks | 3 weeks | y | |
Seward & Kissel | 4 weeks | 12 weeks | 2 weeks | ||
Shearman & Sterling | 4 weeks | 18 weeks | 4 weeks | y | |
Sheppard Mullin | Unlimited | 15 weeks | 0 | ||
Sidley Austin | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | Undisclosed | |
Simpson Thacher | 4 weeks | 18 weeks | 4 weeks | y | |
Skadden | 4 weeks | 18 weeks birth mother, 12 weeks primary caregiver, 4 weeks secondary caregiver | 12 weeks if primary caregiver, 4 weeks if secondary caregiver | y | |
Snell & Wilmer | Unlimited | 12 weeks | 12 weeks | ||
Squire Sanders | 18 weeks | ||||
Strasburger & Price | Unlimited | 12 weeks | 0 | ||
Stroock | 4 weeks | 18 weeks | 4 weeks | ||
Sullivan & Cromwell | 4 weeks | 18 weeks | 4 weeks | $7,500 after one year's service | |
Venable | 3 weeks (up to a year with the firm), 4 weeks (over a year with the firm) | 18 weeks if primary caregiver | 4 weeks if secondary caregiver | ||
Vinson Elkins | 3 weeks (1-3 years), 4 weeks (4 years plus) | 12 weeks | 12 weeks | y | |
Waller | 2 weeks (up to 3 years of employment), 3 weeks (after 3 years) | 12 weeks | 0 (up to 12 weeks unpaid leave) | Pre-tax contributions through section 125 F.S.A. | |
Weil | 4 weeks | 18 weeks | 10 weeks | y | |
White & Case | Unlimited | 16-18 weeks depending on length of service | 4 weeks | ✓ | y |
Wiley Rein | 4 weeks | 18 weeks | 4 weeks | ||
Willkie Farr & Gallagher | 4 weeks | 18 weeks if primary caregiver | 4 weeks | ||
WilmerHale | 4 weeks | 18 weeks if primary caregiver, 4 weeks if secondary caregiver | 18 weeks if primary caregiver, 4 weeks if secondary caregiver | Y | |
Wiltshire & Grannis | Unlimited | 12 weeks (or within reason if exempt) | 12 weeks (or within reason if exempt) | ||
Winston & Strawn | Unlimited | 18 weeks | 10 weeks | y |