Hinckley Allen fostering success

WELCOMING COMMITTEE: Managing Partner David Rubin says that Hinkley Allen works to cultivate a
WELCOMING COMMITTEE: Managing Partner David Rubin says that Hinkley Allen works to cultivate a "welcoming" tone at the company, which has 325 employees in six cities. Pictured above from left are: partner Mitchell R. Edwards, Business Development Director Laurie W. MacDonald and Human Resources Director Megan A. McCormack. / PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY

What’s not to like about excellent health insurance and generous vacation days? The king of all job benefits, however, seems to be feeling respected and knowing your employer is invested in your success.

Respect for the person and support for his or her career have helped make the law firm Hinckley Allen one of Rhode Island’s Best Places to Work.

With 325 employees in six cities, Hinkley Allen & Snyder LLP, in business since 1906, is headquartered in Providence. Managing Partner David Rubin, who joined the firm 29 years ago, said, “We want people who come here to succeed.” He added, “We have a group of talented and dedicated and caring and compassionate people. The firm wants them to be as good as they can be.”

Rubin said the tone of Hinckley Allen is “welcoming,” a term that was echoed by others in the company’s professional and support staff.

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In addition to the paramount principle of always giving good service to clients, the firm believes in the importance of helping employees to continually improve as professionals.

Each generation of employees and managers “has recognized that the institution must give back to the more-junior people,” Rubin said. “People are beneficiaries of those who came before them, and they help the next generation.”

Mentoring across generations is partly a strategic move because “clients like to see continuity and a succession plan,” Rubin said. Also, “there is enjoyment is seeing a younger generation grow and play a critical role in our firm.”

Unlike some law firms, Rubin said, Hinckley Allen does not over-hire with the idea of weeding out people. “We hope lawyers can stay here for the balance of their careers,” he said.

Megan McCormack, director of human resources, said, “The majority of the staff has been here for at least 15 to 20 years, and there are people who have been here 20, 30, 40 years. It is the kind of place that people don’t want to leave.”

Hinckley Allen doesn’t beat up its people with grueling workloads. “We make sure people have a balanced life; we don’t create artificial requirements that adversely affect the quality of life,” Rubin said. “This is a place where people are respected, appreciated and supported.”

This includes pitching in and finding work-arounds in various ways if employees find themselves in a personal or family crisis and need their workplace to cut them a little slack.

Hinckley Allen sharpens its staff by hiring from different cultural backgrounds and life experiences, including people with military service.

“When you have a diverse workplace you get a higher level of thinking, analysis and decision-making than if you have everyone thinking from the same background and same perspective,” Rubin said. “It is morally the right thing to do and it is important from a business perspective.”

A good pay and benefits package “shows people that we are invested in them,” McCormack said. In addition to good health insurance, 401(k), and paid time off, the firm offers employees a wellness program with perks like discounts on medical insurance for people who get annual physicals and stay off tobacco; reimbursements for gym memberships; and referrals for addiction problems, stress management, day care, elder care, nutrition problems, and more.

Job satisfaction at Hinckley Allen also includes opportunities to do good for the soul by doing service to the larger community. The firm encourages workers to serve on boards of charities and non-profits in every community where the firm exists, including Boston; Hartford, Conn.; Concord, N.H.; Albany, N.Y.; and New York City.

In Providence, McCormack said, the company has worked with United Way on a children’s book drive, helped fill backpacks with school supplies for needy children, and pitched in with the Woonsocket-based Adopt a Family to provide Christmas gifts.

Pro bono work is encouraged. Mitchell Edwards, a partner in the firm who serves as point person on pro bono activities, said, “This fulfills a need and a desire to help communities in which we live, to help people who could not otherwise afford legal help.”

Within the office, pro bono work also has a benefit of offering a boost of higher-level work for lawyers earlier in their careers. “It gives them an opportunity to grow quickly, to get in court right away, to have client contact, and to think about how to solve a client’s problem. It allows them to fill a role above and beyond their years.” Mostly, Edwards said, helping people in need “is good for the soul.”

McCormack summarized, “This firm is a collection of people who take pride in their work and are driven to do their best.” •

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