Latest Legal articles
What does the future hold for the law?
In 2015 external investors will have much more say in the running of private practice firms, billable hours will be a completely outdated charging system and most associates will be paid on merit rather than on experience or longevity. This scenario could become reality but to what extent? Read more »
Should associates be specialist or generalist?
During the recession some areas of practice such as banking, finance and commercial property experienced a dramatic drop in business. Associates who had spent the preceding growth years embedding themselves within their respective practices as specialists subsequently found themselves subjected to one, if not more rounds of redundancy. Many became victims of the recession and ended up unemployed. Read more »
Insolvency practitioners are cannibalising the legal profession
Despite recent signs of easing recessionary pressures, should we really believe that those at risk have survived the worst of it? With 2009 seeing far greater numbers of personal insolvency and company liquidations than those seen in the 1980’s and 1990’s, businesses have been warned of how dangerous the early months of 2010 will be. Read more »
Who’s in Demand – February 2010
It looks like many in house lawyers are beginning to feel more secure in their current roles which is a sign that the economy is recovering. We’re seeing fewer speculative applications as a result. This means it will be easier for employers to pick out candidates totally committed to moving job. Read more »
Is an international move for you?
An ever changing and challenging marketplace has led to increased pressure on candidates to take stock and re-examine the criteria in their quest to develop and progress their career. An increasingly attractive and feasible option is for candidates to explore opportunities in the international market. So, what is the attraction for lawyers to work overseas and how should you position yourself as a candidate? Read more »
Get yourself back up to speed after 6-9 months of redundancy
This recession will be remembered for its severity and its length: the longest in the post-war period. Amongst the large number of lawyers that lost their jobs, many are enduring an unwanted period of limbo whilst looking for their next position. This poses a new set of problems for them once 6 months have elapsed. Read more »
Lockstep vs merit based pay structures
Before modifying its lockstep pay structure a few years ago, staff at Lovells enjoyed near uniform annual increases in their salary linked to PQE. Now that Lovells is possibly gearing up for a merger with Hogan & Hartson, the issue of merit based pay in lieu of lockstep has been brought into the spotlight again. Read more »
Who’s In Demand – November 2009
Recent news that the recession is not quite over indicates that there is still some way to go before things get back to ‘normal’. However, there are pockets of the legal industry that bring good news. Read more »
Can paralegals shake off the industry’s perception of them?
With the number of law graduates seemingly on the increase and those undertaking the LPC and subsequently obtaining a training contract on the decline, will we see disillusionment amongst those considering law as a career? Not if the institute of paralegals (IoP) has anything to do with it. Read more »
Are we seeing the end of the high street practice?
During a year that has already been incredibly tough on the legal profession it seems that insurers are applying more pressure by implementing substantial premium increases for indemnity insurance. Whilst the impact of this has been felt across the entire profession, high street practices are feeling it more than most. Read more »
Who is regulating the regulators?
Over the past few years regulatory lawyers have benefitted from many of the high profile cases to hit the headlines – cases such as the SFO’s investigation of the BAe/Saudi corruption scandal, Baby P and the FSA now vetting bank directors. The general public, spurred on by the media, is seemingly less willing to accept instances where organisations take too much advantage of a situation to the detriment of others. Read more »
Are law firms responsible for easing social mobility?
Alan Milburn’s report on social mobility has sparked some interesting debate within the legal profession. Whilst most law firms have improved their anti-discrimination policies relating to disability, sexism, racism and ageism, questions over the social diversity of their employees have largely been off the radar. Read more »
