Today’s front page Wall Street Journal Online article is compulsory reading for all law firm Managing Partners and H.R. professionals:
Hard Case: Job Market ?Wanes for U.S. Lawyers – Growth of Legal Sector Lags Broader Economy; Law Schools Proliferate
By AMIR EFRATI, September 24, 2007; Page A1
While the article admittedly says:
“For graduates of
Two notes of optimism today for the legal profession:
“Forget the old stereotypes of law firms as inhospitable to women,” said Suzanne Riss, Editor in Chief, Working Mother magazine. “As Working Mother examined the practices of many of the nation’s law firms, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that a number have been quietly changing
“Ford & Harrison, a 190-attorney labor and employment firm, has tossed out billable-hour requirements for first-year associates. The program aims to close the practical-skills gap of law school education and increase value to clients. The firm also hopes it will enable associates to handle meatier matters more quickly.“ according to Leigh Jones of The National
Ahhhh yes… seduction!
Many great firms that I serve have a common enemy ”complacency” which Is indeed the result of decades of success. Managing Partners complain that they are unable to get their partners to pay attention to their future.
Read Jim Hassett’s blogpost, Have lawyers been seduced by success? In his fantastic blog: Legal
This is a San Francisco Chronicle article in which Chronicle Staff Writer Heidi Benson begins:
“Mary Mocine, a 63-year-old Zen priest and former litigator, teaches meditation to burned-out attorneys at weekend retreats at Tassajara in Big Sur and Green Gulch Farm at Muir Beach.”
Litigators may be comforted by this: "You can still
"New Lawyer Jobs
90 percent of 2006 law school graduates found jobs by February, 2007. That’s the largest percentage since 2000 and way up from the 85% rate ten years ago. Of the 36,465 graduates who have jobs, 56% were in private practice and 10% were judicial clerks. Of the remainder, 14% went into a
*According to the largest-ever research program in the UK legal profession, it appears that as the Beatles sang “money can’t buy you love”
I am not certain that the numbers would be different elsewhere in the world but at least are informed by recent and credible statistics.
The Lawyer.com article: Twenty four per cent of
The Complete Lawyer tag line is: Tools and insights on professional development and quality of life and career issues that impact every lawyer’s success and satisfaction.
Is this a resource that may be helpful to some of your lawyers (if not all)?
Thank you to friend and Complete Lawyer contributor Stephanie West Allen (of Idealawg
According to The Wall Street Journal, "Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP, on Friday said that 45 partners have been asked to leave or accept other positions there as part of a restructuring".
According to thier own web site, Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP is among the largest law practices in the world, with
The Secret Step: Asking the delegatee for ideas regarding the assigned task.
Four reasons why your delegatee may have an unanticipated but valuable contribution to make
1) Your delegatee may have performed a similar task in the past for someone who knew something different (and valuable)
2) Your delegatee may be just creative enough
