Where have all the lawyers gone?
Assistants, particularly at the junior level end, are also concerned with the quality of training, the variety of work and the way they are going to be treated. A number of law firms have started to recognise the so-called 'psychological contract' between the employer and the employee. Broadly speaking, this goes along the lines that the employee will give his/her very best commitment to the employer who in turn will give them an additional skill set that they would not be able to gain at another law firm. This additional skill set may even take them out of the law, but the commitment by the employer is to develop the individual professionally.
Overall paying a higher salary will increase the chances of recruiting (as will other financial incentives such as offering a sign-on bonus or paying discretionary bonuses) but it is not the only solution.
These are all human capital issues that TMP QD Legal is able to advise on.
