Morgan Lewis has introduced a dedicated coaching program designed to help lawyer-parents navigate the transition back to work after parental leave.
The initiative offers mentorship, practical resources, and support focused on work-life balance for returning parents across all seniority levels at the firm.
Lani Walser, chief legal talent officer at Morgan Lewis, outlined the thinking behind the programme in comments given to the ABA Journal.
“We recognize that parental leave is a significant time in a lawyer’s life, no matter your level of seniority,” Walser said, explaining the rationale for creating the structured support system.
“It’s a big deal to step away from practice, focus on your family, try to get some sleep and do all the things, and then return to practice,” she added.
“So we really wanted to create a more thoughtful, structured support system that helps our parents return and sets them up for success,” Walser continued, summarising the core aim of the programme.
Walser also noted that the specialised support reflects the firm’s broader culture while helping returning parents feel more engaged and better positioned for long-term success.
The programme acknowledges that the return from parental leave can be a significant professional and personal adjustment, regardless of where a lawyer sits within the firm’s hierarchy.
By formalising mentorship and resources around this transition, Morgan Lewis joins a growing number of large law firms investing in targeted retention and wellbeing strategies for working parents.
The move signals increasing recognition across the legal sector that structured re-entry support can play a meaningful role in retaining experienced legal talent after periods of family leave.
Firms operating in competitive legal markets have faced mounting pressure to demonstrate genuine commitment to work-life balance, particularly for associates and partners with young families.
The Morgan Lewis coaching programme represents an effort to move beyond standard parental leave policies and build longer-term infrastructure supporting lawyers throughout the full arc of their return to practice.