When Pannone Lopes Devereaux & West began in Providence four years ago, the founding partners decided the firm would not straitjacket itself by imposing the strict job rankings and hierarchies that are common to many law firms.
Instead, the firm encourages workers to contribute to the company’s overall goals by pursuing their strengths and interests, even if that means stepping across the bounds of formal job descriptions.
“The partners and I are always thinking of the staff – and that means everyone – as a team, rather than a ‘practice area’ or a ‘group,’ the terms usually used in law firms,” said David Sweet, director of administration. “We run the company more as a business that practices law than a law firm with a ladder mentality.”
For instance, Sweet said, in this company a first-year associate might have some opportunities to do courtroom work, a quick ascension that probably would not happen in larger law firms.
The willingness to allow employees to move outside their job descriptions and offer their abilities elsewhere probably has helped the firm with its robust growth from nine employees in 2006 to 43 employees today, including small branches in New York and Florida.
The firm encourages employees to grow in their profession by paying for continuing education in various forms and by offering in-house mentoring and workshops. The firm tries to ease the strain of managing professional and personal worlds with flexible hours and opportunities to work outside the office. Other great benefits include an in-house gym and the opportunity for employees to receive pay for time spent volunteering for community causes.
“I feel like I am growing every day,” Sweet said. •
