THE ambition of becoming partner is reducing in its attraction to “Generation Y” lawyers, which is requiring law firms to adapt their approach to the career development of its staff.
It is part of broader changes in the working practices in firms across the region, which are happier
“10 years ago, people’s ambition was to become a partner,” said Walker Morris’s Ian Gilbert. “Now they are looking for a slightly different balance in their lifestyle and getting to partnership is not where they ultimately see themselves ending up.
“There has been a significant shift in recent years to in-house teams where they feel they can get good quality work, suitable professional recognition and a rewarding career. There are some people that think it’s a slightly easier career in terms of hours worked but I think that’s not always the case.”
John Alderton at Squire Patton Boggs agrees there has been a change among some junior lawyers.
“Over the next 5-10 years it will be interesting to see how the sector adapts to a career path where people don’t have the aspiration to be a partner,” he said.
“Paul Mann has made partner in six years, that’s as quick as anyone would have made it. At the other end of the scale we have associates who are happy with the reward structure for career associates, and we have good examples of that in the corporate team.”
Kate Orviss, a partner at Pinsent Masons, thinks that some junior lawyers can be put off by what they perceive to be the role and requirements of being a partner.
She said: “There is an issue about Generation Y because they see people doing that, being a partner, is a hassle with a million emails.
“But I love being a partner at Pinsent Masons, it’s incredibly rewarding.”
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