Retention & Advancement Initiatives - Winston & Strawn

Winston devotes substantial time and resources to the retention, development, and advancement of all of our people, including programs developed specifically to benefit our women, racial/ethnic minority, and LGBTQ+ attorneys.

Winston’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is evident everywhere you look, from its inclusive culture and commitment to hiring and investing in diverse attorneys.

Marcus Garcia, Associate Advisor to the DE&I Committee, La Alianza at Winston Representative

Diversity & Inclusion Associate Sponsorship Program

This program—the centerpiece of our Diversity & Inclusion Committee’s efforts to retain and develop our lawyers—pairs high-potential associates with a sponsor from the firm’s Executive Committee. The sponsors are tasked with providing the associates with career-advancing advice and opportunities.

Developing the Next Generation of Diverse Leaders

Family-Friendly Initiatives

At Winston, an important component of promoting diversity and inclusion and ensuring the success of our lawyers with families is facilitating a healthy balance between work and family life. Our family-friendly benefits include:

20 weeks’ parental leave at 100% of salary for mothers and fathers of newborns or a newly adopted child, regardless of caregiver status.
Partner-level Parental Leave Liaison to access for advice.
Reduced hours targets during “ramp down” and “ramp up” periods.
Working Parents Career Strategist who helps parents create a career plan that works for you and your family..
Free overnight delivery of breast milk for nursing moms when they travel for work and on-site nursing rooms.
60 days of paid back-up childcare for a child’s first year and 30 days per year after that.
Family Network affinity group that provides camaraderie and support.
The option to work a flexible hours schedule for those who want to spend more time at home.. Several Winston attorneys have been promoted to partner while working a flexible hours schedule.

Additional Retention & Advancement Initiatives

Diverse Lawyers Retreat

Every two years, Winston hosts a retreat, which provides professional development and networking opportunities for self-identified racial/ethnic minority and LGBTQ+ attorneys.

Billable Hours Credit

Associates can count up to 50 hours of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) work toward meeting their annual billable hours goal.

Affinity Groups

Winston’s Affinity Groups play a critical role in the recruitment, retention, and advancement of diverse attorneys throughout the firm. These groups serve as a platform for networking, mentorship, professional development, and empowerment at all levels.