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chubb paternal leave policy?
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How do you give notice in big law?
Mentor
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Subject Expert
You do you. You’ll never say, “damn, I wish I billed more so my asshole colleague wouldn’t have judged me for being a loving parent.”
Mentor
I think it doesn’t matter as much as a junior associate because people will have long since forgotten about this when you are up for partner (if you even make it that far). As a matter of policy, you also aren’t allowed to let this stuff negatively impact someone. Because otherwise: what’s the point of the policy to permit this leave? I would also say that 3 months leave is pretty short in today’s world. At least, I think it is. So, that would make me more inclined to take it if I were you.
But, at firm’s where maternity/paternity leaves are a lot longer than at your firm is it risk free to take leave after leave in the years leading up to being up for partner? No, it’s not risk free - regardless of what policy says.
And, is there still some cultural choking on paternity leave that goes on? Yep. I think there is, but not like when I was a junior associate (where I think it was career ending, no questions asked).
As a junior and given that it’s 3 months - in today’s world - I wouldn’t sweat taking it personally.
P1 - what’s your firm?
Depends. Are you planning on having kids every year for the next 15 years? Take the leave. And read/re-familiarize yourself on your employment contract regarding parental leave.
Mentor
Young sir, for all us parents of young kids, allow me to put you on game: not only should you take the leave, you will NEED to take the leave. 1 kid you can tab in and out with your wife. 2 kids? 2 kids under 2?!?!?! Bless your sweet summer heart. Don’t take the leave if you don’t want to, but I promise you that you, your wife, your kids, and your mental health will thank you for taking the leave.
You are about to have a fun house. May the odds be ever in your favor ✊🏼.
Mentor
3 month paternity is pretty good! Fully paid? I say take it. Enjoy your new kid. Work will always be there. The first months of your new child won’t.
Take the full leave every time without hesitation. It's a benefit of working at your firm; it's there for a reason, and it's one of the upsides of working a job that otherwise consumes so much of your time.
If your firm offered you $20k cash, would you take it or leave it? You don't give the firm some of your paycheck back every two weeks because you're worried that keeping all of the money will reflect poorly on you, right? That's the equivalent of what you're doing when you take less than the full allotment of parental leave.
And on top of that, you're setting precedent for others, including your female colleagues. The best way to counteract the nonsense pressure to cut leave short is for everyone to take all of it all the time until it's a baseline expectation.
If anyone judges you for it or asks you to work while you're on it, that's a sign that you shouldn't work with that person ever again. Don't tolerate bad colleagues.
Coach
Take it: you’re very unlikely to remain at your current firm for more than a few years, especially as a junior. The number of people that make partner at the the firm they started is minuscule. Even if that is your goal, do you want to work at a firm that dings you for paternity leave? There are many biglaw shops where women who have taken multiple (3+) 6-month maternity leaves make partner, go there if your firm doesn’t support your paternity leave and your family.
Take. The. Leave.
Enthusiast
Resentment builds— even if no one says anything — when guys take back to back paternity leave. Obviously can’t get used against you … but your colleagues picking up the slack will be bothered. I would see if you can take intermittent leave, or cut it down.
Who cares really about this - you can always switch firms but can’t do the same with family. He is unlikely to get a new kid every year and literally everyone can cover for a junior, which isn’t the case later on.
Subject Expert
Make the most of parental leave no matter what people say. Help out your spouse!! BUT don’t talk about it too much with your co-associates that will have to cover for you. Block them on social media. Your co-workers aren’t your friends.
My firm (Kirkland) gives a huge amount of paternity leave. I am curious how it affects people's bonus, reputation, and promotion if they take it once or multiple times. I want several kids.
Hmmm…interesting take. I may have to find a surrogate and nanny to keep my career in line.
Mentor
Absolutely take it. I took two paternity leaves by the time I was a fourth year. No discernible negative impacts as far as I’m aware. It’s better when you’re junior as people have been noting on this thread. Within a few months of your return no one really remembers.
I’d read the policy close to confirm you can within a year. My firm is generous with leave (12 weeks, all counts toward your bonus, and bonus is full), but you have to wait a year from returning from leave to take another one.