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The Rise of Specialist Career Paths in Law Firms

The Rise of Specialist Career Paths in Law Firms

Author: Mitch Kowalski
Publisher: Globe Law and Business
ISBN: 9781787428720
Published In: June 2022
Format: Paperback , 125 pages
Jurisdiction: International ? Disclaimer:
Countri(es) stated herein are used as reference only

List Price: AU$387.40

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Description
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Author

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Law firms have evolved exponentially over the last few decades, and today it requires far more than legal skills for firms to operate efficiently, fulfil client demands, give back to their communities and, ultimately, succeed. As a result, specialist roles beyond fee-earning have been created and more continue to emerge as technology advances and competition intensifies. They are a crucial part of future-proofing law firms and there is growing recognition of the respect and value they deserve with increasing numbers gaining positions in senior management. These roles range from working with legal tech to bringing in new business, from managing the firm’s risk and compliance function to collaborating with clients to develop new products. For a lawyer looking to take the next steps in their career, or a law firm wanting to implement the career paths required for future success, it can be difficult to know where to begin.

The Rise of Specialist Career Paths in Law Firms is the essential guide to the plethora of career opportunities available in law firms. It covers more established roles such as the professional support lawyer and pro bono professional, and new, emerging career paths, including in innovation and legal operations, as well as roles that will become available in the future. Written by experts with lived experience performing these roles, chapters provide information and insights into the different opportunities available, the skills needed to thrive in these positions, the responsibilities they entail and how to build careers in these spaces.

With increasing client demands and the ‘talent war’ raging, this title will demonstrate how implementing these specialist career paths will enable law firms to continue to provide stellar client service and develop and retain top legal talent, who are increasingly looking for more tailored and flexible career options. It will also provide individual lawyers with the resource to identify and pursue the career that suits them best, allowing them to thrive to the benefit of both the individuals and their firms.

Executive summary

About the authors

Chapter 1: Why there is a need for a variety of career paths

By Mitch Kowalski, thought leader and legal operations advisor

Chapter 2: The role of the professional support lawyer

By Clare Hart, partner and head of professional support, Digby Brown LLP

Chapter 3: Career paths for professional support lawyers

By Lucy Hall, client value lawyer, Shearman & Sterling LLP

Chapter 4: The evolution of knowledge management – meeting the future

By Clare Harman Clark, senior professional support lawyer,

Taylor Wessing LLP

Chapter 5: Career structures in knowledge management teams

By Karen Battersby, director of knowledge and innovation, Freeths

Chapter 6: Pro bono management

By Amy Grunske, head of international pro bono, sustainability & community responsibility, Orrick

Chapter 7: Risk and compliance

By Rebecca Atkinson, director of risk and compliance, Howard Kennedy

Chapter 8: How to create a successful career in legal business development

By Anne Macdonald, partner, Harper Macleod LLP

Chapter 9: The shifting sands of talent management

By Rachel Brushfield, founder, EnergiseLegal

Chapter 10: Communications

By Hayley Geffin, head of communications & PR, Mishcon de Reya

Chapter 11: Innovation

By Amy Monaghan, practice innovation manager, Perkins Coie

Chapter 12: Legal operations

By Tammy Heydenrych, managing consultant and Tom Evans, legal operations consultant,

Norton Rose Fulbright LLP

Chapter 13: The role of the legal engineer

By Nina Gramcko, lawyer and legal engineer, Noerr

Chapter 14: The emerging world of ESG

By Claire Shasha, lawyer and ESG advocate

Chapter 15: Hyperspecialization and its impact on law firm careers

by Rebecca Holdredge, innovations manager,

Husch Blackwell

Author(s): Mitch Kowalski, Clare Hart - Digby Brown LLP, Lucy Hall - Shearman & Sterling LLP, Clare Harman Clark - Taylor Wessing LLP, Karen Battersby - Freeths, Amy Grunske - Orrick, Rebecca Atkinson - Howard Kennedy, Anne Macdonald - Harper Macleod LLP, Rachel Brushfield - EnergiseLegal, Hayley Geffin - Mishcon de Reya, Amy Monaghan - Perkins Coie, Tammy Heydenrych - Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, Tom Evans - Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, Nina Gramcko - Noerr, Claire Shasha, Rebecca Holdredge - Husch Blackwell