Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C.’s Groundbreaking Firmwide Sabbatical Program Featured in Law360 Pulse
Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C.’s groundbreaking firmwide sabbatical program was featured in Law360 Pulse, “Pashman Stein Eyes Atty Well-Being with Sabbatical Program.” Launched in 2026, Pashman Stein’s sabbatical program offers full time employees—attorneys and support staff alike—the opportunity to take a fully paid, six‑week sabbatical every five years, complete with full benefits and billable‑hour credits.
Law360 Pulse interviewed firm chair and managing partner Michael S. Stein, who explained that the sabbatical program is one of several initiatives over the years, including generous primary and secondary caregiver leave on par with Am Law firms, reduced billable hour goals, and the establishment of the Justice Gary S. Stein Public Interest Center, that reflect the firm’s long‑standing commitment to building a culture rooted in work-life balance, purpose, and excellence.
"We think in the world of private law….that to be able to actually take six weeks and decompress is going to be good for you emotionally, is going to make you a better person, a better lawyer, and is going to make you better able to retain a sense of meaning, purpose, and passion in your everyday work life," Stein said.
In discussing how these initiatives also are beneficial from a business perspective, Stein explained:
"Our profitability is way up," Stein said. "Our retention rate is through the roof. Our ability to recruit the best and brightest is through the roof. And there's this extraordinary sense of pride, from the mail room up to our oldest employee, my father [Justice Gary S. Stein (Ret.)]."
Described as a “meaningful differentiator in today’s market,” attorney wellness professionals interviewed by Law360 Pulse note that sabbatical programs remain rare in the legal profession, could bring significant benefits in terms of well-being for employees and for the business of recruitment, and can communicate trust and long-term thinking.
The Sabbatical program was also featured in the New Jersey Law Journal. Click here to learn more.
About Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C.
Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. is a full-service law firm with a reputation for professional excellence, including being named by the New Jersey Law Journal “Law Firm of the Year” as part of its 2023 Legal Awards and seven-time winner of its Appellate Litigation Department of the Year. In addition, Chambers and Partners has ranked many of our departments and lawyers in the 2025 USA Guide. Headquartered in Hackensack, New Jersey, the firm has offices throughout the region in Holmdel, New Jersey; New York, New York; Wilmington, Delaware; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The firm serves a diverse client base including Fortune 500 companies, emerging growth entities and entrepreneurial businesses, professional athletes, law firms, judges, lawyers, governmental entities, non-profit organizations, and individuals. As a member of Interlaw, the firm has access to an internationally recognized network of law firms, comprising 8000+ lawyers throughout the world. Additional firm honors include being named Law Firm of the Year-finalist (2025, 2024, and 2021) and Litigation Department of the Year-finalist (2025, 2024, and 2023) by the New Jersey Law Journal; and named 2020 Pro Bono Law firm by the New Jersey State Bar Association. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. The New Jersey Legal Awards are published by the New Jersey Law Journal. A description of the selection methodology can be found at https://www.event.law.com/njlawjournal-njlegalawards/methodology. The Chambers USA ranking list is published by Chambers & Partners. A description of the selection methodology can be found at https://chambers.com/about-us/methodology