Great Article on Burnout

Legal Sanity links to a great article in New York Magazine on the subject of burnout. While the New York article does not focus much on the legal industry, blogger Arnie Herz notes a reference at the end of the article to the American Lawyer survey of mid-level associates. The article points out that the number one and number three firms in this year's survey both had a perfect score on their support for pro bono work.

So what is the reason for this? Does pro bono work provide lawyers with a greater sense of purpose? Do these firms support pro bono by counting pro bono hours when calculating an associate's billable hours?

Explaining the Absence of Minority Partners

No one disputes the facts: i.e. that very few minorities have achieved partnership at the top law firms in the country. But the explanation for this reality is hotly disputed. A law professor at UCLA has ignited passions with a study that concludes that hiring practices are to blame (i.e. that in an effort to open up door for more minorities, law firms relax their academic standards when making offers to minority candidates.)

According to an article in today's NY Times (free subscription required), many dispute his findings and attribute the lack of minority partners to a lack of mentoring and a system of assigning work which leaves minority associates at a disadvantage. Others point to the fact that top minority lawyers are being recruited heavily by corporations for in-house counsel positions. Whatever the explanation is, it is clear that recruiting minorities out of law school is by itself insufficient to create long term diversity at a firm. Firms need to invest in cultivating minority talent long after the recruiting process is over.

How Corporations Compete for Experienced Counsel

Corporations have a harder time competing for experienced legal talent than they do competing for more junior talent. Large law firms clearly have the edge on base compesation. But corporations can use other incentives to attract more senior attorneys. An executive recruiter spells out the list which includes equity awards, incentive bonuses and more opportunities to get management experience.

Weil Gotshal Creates "Flex-time Partners"

Who would have guessed? Maybe large firms are finally getting worried about retaining talent.

Happy Days for Mid-level Associates?

The Boston Business Journal reports that lateral hiring opportunities are abundant for mid-level associates. In reality, it is associates with large firm credentials who are in demand. I suspect the market is not as robust for those associates coming out of smaller firms or for senior assoociates who lack a portable practice. Yet another manifestation of our "winner take all" economy.

Canadian Lawyers Resist Flexible Schedules

JD Bliss reports on a Catalyst of Canada study demonstrating that large numbers of Canadian lawyers who opt for flexible work arrangements believe that these arrangements have a negative career impact. Only 31% of women believe that choosing an alternative path will not have a negative impact. The problem is less accute for men (60% do not think that choosing a flexible path will have a negative impact.)

Serving Not Selling

Traditional sales techniques are largely ineffective when selling professional services. Instead of talking about your services, demonstrate your ability to serve through your actions. You will feel better about the sales process and more importantly, you will be more successful.

Have Children During Law School?

Now there's a thought! After all, you have more flexibility when you are a student.

Of course this requires you to have a spouse who will support you through law school (not to mention the requirement that you meet someone with whom you want to raise a family.)

How Coaching Can Help With Balance

Ellen Ostrow offers her thoughts on how working with a coach can help lawyers achieve better work/life balance. Her interview appears on the website www.lawyerswithalife.com .

Minority Lawyers Continue to Lag

Those are the unfortunate conclusions of a new study released by the ABA.

"Of women attorneys of color, 44 percent reported being passed over for desirable assignments, compared with 39 percent of white women, 25 percent of men of color and only 2 percent of white men. (The study covered law firms of 25 lawyers or more; more than 1,000 lawyers responded to the online questionnaire.)"

Further evidence that the only way for things to change is for law firms to make an affirmative commitment to addressing these statistics.

The Curmudgeon's Guide to Practicing Law

Career Journal provides some excerpts from a new book on associate survival at a large law firm. Sounds like it has a lot of useful information and Career Journal seems to think it is a funny read. But IMHO (having only seen a short excerpt) it sounds like a fairly cynical and sarcastic view of the practice of law.

10 Questions to Ask a Headhunter

JD Bliss links to my colleague Dan Binstock's article in the Legal Times.

Sobering Stats for Women in the Law

The National Association for Women Laywers has released a study documenting that women continue to lag in the partnership ranks at top U.S. firms. They also lag in compensation when they do make equity partner. No big surprises but the data sets a benchmark for future comparisons.

Dealing With Distractions When Working From Home

RainToday.Com has a good article on how to work more effectively from a home office. I followed most of these suggestions for the eight years I worked worked from home. My conclusion after reading the article: I would have been even more productive had I done everything on the list.