For the second consecutive year, the law firm of Baker Donelson has been named one of Fortune's 100 Best Workplaces for Women.
Baker Donelson is the second highest ranked law firm on the list and is ranked 53 overall, up from last year's ranking of 66. The list is based on employees' assessments of communications with management, options for development and training, and support for work/life balance, among other factors. The ranking also takes into account how well-represented women are within the workforce overall and in management and executive positions.
"Our inclusion again in this prestigious listing and the strong increase in our ranking is attributable to Baker Donelson's continued commitment to a work culture that is among the best in the country for women," said Christy Tosh Crider, chair of Baker Donelson's Women's Initiative and a shareholder in the Firm's Nashville office.
"We continue to be focused on developing new opportunities and providing innovative ways to support women at Baker Donelson through efforts such as unique approaches to mentoring, leading-edge policies that promote work-life balance, and further strides in our already strong representation of women in leadership across the Firm."
The 100 Best Workplaces for Women list, published by Fortune in partnership with consulting firm Great Place to Work, is based entirely upon feedback from more than 137,762 women. Women completed an anonymous Trust Index survey, answering questions about how frequently they experience the behaviors that create a great workplace, including, for example, their assessment of how fairly they're treated regardless of gender, the quality and authenticity of communications with managers, and equitable pay and promotion practices. Women's anonymous responses resulted in a total score for each company, which was compared to the benchmark for organizations of that size and ranked accordingly.
"Earlier this year, Baker Donelson was also named one of Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For. In its seventh consecutive year to be included, Baker Donelson was ranked 32 on the prestigious list, which recognizes companies that have exceptional workplace cultures. In addition to its inclusion in Fortune's 100 Best Companies to Work For and Best Workplaces for Women, the Firm is ranked ninth in the country on Vault's "Best Law Firms for Diversity" list and is ranked sixth in the country by Vault for Diversity for Women. Baker Donelson also earned its second consecutive certification by the Women in Law Empowerment Forum as a Gold Standard Firm," officials said.