Winston Attorney Attains Balance – and Partnership – with Flexible Work Schedule

The Diversity & Flexibility Alliance (DFA) recently featured an interview with newly elected Winston partner Megan Devaney in its monthly “Spotlight on Flex” column, which highlights successes of attorneys working flexible schedules. In the interview, Ms. Devaney discusses how she has utilized a flexible schedule to successfully prioritize career and personal items.

With the firm’s full support, Ms. Devaney told DFA, she began working on a flexible schedule as a fifth-year associate returning from maternity leave in 2011 and made partner in 2015.

“I made it clear I wanted to make partner and work on matters that would advance my career,” she said.

Her recipe for success includes setting expectations with clients, securing high-quality work assignments, surrounding herself with supportive people, and carving out time with family.

Ms. Devaney also credits mentor relationships as an important aspect of her success and advises younger associates to “seek out a mentor and be your own advocate.” When she returned from maternity leave, she told her practice group leaders that her plan was to make partner and met with them regularly to ensure she was heading in the right direction.

Winston is a member of the DFA, a think tank dedicated to creating work environments centered on inclusion and innovative thought leadership.

Click here to read DFA’s full interview with Megan Devaney.