Whether you are hiring new associates or lawyers, you will likely encounter several challenges. Similar to other employers, the legal sector is experiencing a talent scarcity regarding trained labor, as seen by the hiring issues that law firms face.
Recruiting highly qualified legal professionals is the most significant practice management difficulty facing their company, according to more than three in ten lawyers (31%) who responded to the poll. Management of the caseload or process came in second, receiving 19% of the poll responses.
Alternative Fee Arrangements
Despite the popularity of alternative fee arrangements among consumers, some firms have better options. Therefore, firms should carefully evaluate each alternative fee arrangement to determine which fits their practice and clientele best.
Alternative billing service models provide an opportunity to offer client-centered service, but they must be priced appropriately and make sense for the firm. Some of the most common alternative fee arrangements include subscription-based fees, flat fees, and capped fees.
Many firms use a hybrid of these arrangements. Firms also can charge clients in addition to billable hours. As a result, an alternative billing service model can benefit clients, attorneys, and law firms.
In addition to limiting risk, fee caps are essential in helping clients manage their budgets. If clients cannot pay for legal services, they will likely not seek the services of a law firm. Alternatively, law firms can charge clients a flat fee that varies based on the scope of the work. This option is an excellent way to gauge the amount of time a transaction takes.
Low-level Work Creates an Experience Gap for Junior Associates.
Getting a top-notch education is no small feat, but being lucky enough to land an associate’s job can be akin to a lottery ticket. The best of the best is the lucky few. Getting lucky may be more challenging than you think it is. However, you can be well on your way to an enjoyable legal career using the right resources. The neophyte is only for a short time if you are willing to bet on it. Getting in the door is hard, but if you play your cards right, you may find yourself with a high-five in no time. One trick of the trade is keeping your ego and your olfactory in check. The best way to do this is to have a buddy or two on speed dial to ring in the bells and whistles as a perk.
Compensation
Increasingly, compensation is outstripping that of in-house roles offered by legal firms. This is because the hot economies have reduced the supply of lawyers, and firms are competing for the talent they need. However, the compensation gap can lead to lawyers choosing employers based on economics rather than personal choice.
The compensation for Legal Counsel has increased significantly since the start of 2021. In addition, some firms offer more significant bonuses for their top lawyers in 2022. Bonuses are tied to company performance and can account for 40 to 50 percent of a chief legal officer’s compensation.
The survey also found that the gender pay gap is still in effect for the top company lawyer positions. In some cases, male lawyers’ bonuses were 18 percent higher than female lawyers.
While numerous factors influence compensation, the gender pay gap is particularly apparent for the most senior department positions.
Law Firm Technology Reduces Headcount.
Investing in technology can mitigate the biggest self-perceived threat to law firm profitability. In addition to helping with productivity, it can free up lawyers for higher-value activities. It can also allow firms to serve clients better.
Technology is also a vital tool for reducing the cost of legal services. For example, firms can use workflow technology to streamline repetitive processes for a new attorney. These processes can also be automated to help onboard new employees into proven workflows.
Law firms can also leverage technology to help address burnout and dissatisfaction. Studies show that employees feel overworked. Legal tech can also allow lawyers to work remotely. A remote workforce can help maintain a healthy work-life balance.
In addition, law firms can use technology to track lawyer performance. For example, custom reporting can be built into most time/billing systems. It can also allow reporting on total lawyer time worked compared to billable time.
