The Kentucky Supreme Court should adopt a new Kentucky Rule of Civil Procedure requiring a parental-leave period for attorneys who are new parents.
The enactment of a parental-leave period for male and female attorneys alike provides a continuance of all court matters, as well as discovery, due to the birth or adoption of a child, or the placement of a child through foster care. An attorney, regardless of gender or counsel status, is entitled to a parental-leave period pursuant to the proposed Parental Leave Continuance Rule.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
The establishment of a parental-leave period for new parents will have positive implications for the parents, the clients, the courts, and the entire legal profession.
WHY IT’S NECESSARY
Many attorneys feel discouraged to ask for a parental-leave period fearing unequal pay, less opportunity for promotion, low-quality work assignments, and lack of access to mentoring and networking opportunities, among other reasons. Having a presumptive parental continuance rule in place affirms the importance of work-life balance for practitioners and mitigates the harmful professional bias against individuals wanting
to grow their families.
Download the report summary here.
“A judge in Kansas granted a delay to a civil case because a father was expecting his first child two weeks after the trial was expected to start. In the judge’s official order, he suggests that those who would deny such a continuance “lose sight of their role as professionals and personalize the dispute; converting the parties’ disagreement into a lawyers’ spat.” The opinion concluded with “Defendants’ motion is granted. The Ermans are congratulated.”
Download the Kentucky Rule of Civil Procedure Report here.
Download the Kentucky Rule of Civil Procedure Rule here.
Michelle Browning Coughlin Argues for Parental Leave Continuances Before the Florida Supreme Court.