Covid19 has the potential to be the most significant economic disruption any of us will see. Law firm revenues are down, and partners are under pressure to keep business flowing, while also managing a fully remote workforce and supporting colleagues who have lost work.
They are looking to senior staff more than ever for assistance navigating these new challenges and everyone is adapting to our new reality at a different pace. Across the legal industry, partners are noticing the same traits in their most adaptable – and consequently, most helpful – senior staff.
They haven’t forgotten about their budgets
This is particularly relevant for teams that are still busy. For some lawyers, the adjustment to working from home has resulted in a drop in their billings. Others, meanwhile, have taken full advantage of their commute- and distraction-free days to remain as profitable as ever.
Those lawyers who have been able to get on with the duties that haven’t changed, as well as adapt to those that have, are being recognised by partners as indispensable members of the team.
They get creative
In teams with lighter workflow, it is those lawyers who can find useful, non-billable, tasks that are of the greatest benefit to their firms. Partners have described initiatives such as overhauling precedents and pitch documents, or reaching out to the clients who may be struggling, as work that adds value during quiet times.
They are visible
Partners need to see and hear from their staff regularly to know that they’re engaged, motivated and busy. However, with priorities shifting and some busier than ever, many partners prefer to see lawyers using virtual team meetings and scheduled catch-ups as opportunities to speak up and be heard, rather than impromptu phone calls throughout the day.
They keep the team connected
Retaining a sense of connectedness amongst teams working remotely is only possible with a concerted effort. The teams that are continuing to work best together are those where senior staff have taken personal responsibility for making sure that juniors remain engaged. This doesn’t have to come in the form of social initiatives like virtual Friday drinks or trivia: senior lawyers simply calling to check in on juniors can considerably ease their partners’ workloads.
Focussed, visible, proactive senior lawyers = happy partners