SJ Berwin associates demand recognition for non-legal work
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SJ Berwin’s Associate Solicitors Forum (ASF) is debating how to reward and motivate junior lawyers for doing non-legal work.
Emma Herriman
The ASF, which invited the firm’s management to its recent monthly meeting, is looking at ways the firm can recognise lawyers who handle non-legal work such as marketing and business development.
“There are a lot of lawyers who spend a lot of time on work that’s not related to the billable hour,” explained ASF chair Emma Herriman. “We need to find a way to encourage lawyers to do this kind of valuable work and reward them.”
The ASF, which launched as an elected body in 2007, is designed to give associates better access to management and be more involved in the running of the firm.
Herriman said: “The economy’s been very challenging for every firm and there are a lot of lawyers who have spent a great deal of time developing their business. We’ve not yet decided how we’ll be rewarding lawyers, but we needed to get the discussion going.”
The ASF is also holding elections for associate representatives in each practice group.
Readers' comments (1)
Anonymous | 5-Oct-2009 2:23 pm
This is very timely, there are a lot of city firms that give little importance to lawyers who are carrying out the role of 'rain makers' . To take advantage of associates in this role is unethical to say the least . Time for firms to get real.
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