Julia Berris
SJ Berwin has set up a firmwide associate focus group to decide whether an of counsel role should be introduced.
With ;partnership prospects worsening across the market, the 15-associate alternative career path working group will debate the merit of the new role as either an additional position or an alternative route to partnership
The firm has sent a survey to all SJ Berwin associates to help gauge the level of interest in establishing the of counsel role.
Emma ;Herriman, ;a member of the firm’s associate solicitor forum, said: “The point of the survey is to find out whether this is something the associates feel is needed at the firm.
“The issue had been discussed at the forum, but we felt creating a separate body to discuss alternative career paths was needed.”
Herriman added that the group will discuss of counsel as a possible alternative role to associate as well as being used as either a route to partnership or a move away from the partner role.