The legal industry is changing. A new generation of legal professionals are sweeping into the corridors of law firms and the seats of in-house legal teams. But who is this new generation? How are they engaging with the expected norms of the legal world? How does the generational divide impact their approach to work?
Our latest report analyses exactly that. Built on new data gathered from hundreds of aspiring and training solicitors, and with contributions from industry leaders O Shaped and Wealthbrite, the Future Lawyers Report 2023/24 offers the clearest insights thus far into the mindsets and values of tomorrow’s lawyers. The report is available in full, right now, entirely for free.
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“The future of the legal profession is now, and how organisations manage the future is by acting quickly in the present. This fantastic report highlights that acting now to structure career progression, skills development and balance in managing work-life is key. Further, values driven culture is at the core of companies attracting and retaining legal talent. I’m proud that Flex and our values of being human, trusted and entrepreneurial is so aligned to those who hold the future of the legal profession in their hands.”
“This is an important piece of research reflecting the current mood of aspiring and junior lawyers across the legal ecosystem. Whilst there is some alarming data (such as the name of university still being seen as more important than human skills in selection criteria), it highlights plenty of opportunity for leaders across the profession to make a genuine difference in how they attract, reward and recognise a new generation of talent.”
“We keep hearing that law firms are considering academic backgrounds less heavily in order to, rightly, improve their talent diversity. Commercial awareness is a great indicator of a candidate's potential as an effective lawyer - and yet for these lawyers those statements about doing things differently don't appear to have made it through to hiring practices.”
“What stands out to me is the huge jump from 3% to 45% of lawyers who say alignment to workplace culture is an important factor in encouraging them to stay in their role. We have to ask what has happened over the last year to cause this. Workplace pay, benefits and wellbeing support are all ranked lower and yet are often perceived by employers as key to retaining talent. There seems to be a disconnect in how total reward and workplace culture come together in the minds of those surveyed.”