An overlooked resource
National Law Journal has a short, interesting post on-line this morning: “Slight boost seen in number of part-time attorneys.” To quote the pertinent facts:
The percentage of attorneys working part time ticked up slightly in 2009, despite fears that the unstable economy would prompt fewer people to seek reduced-hours schedules.
According to the latest statistics from the National Association for Law Placement (NALP), the percentage of part-time attorneys at law firms grew from 5.6% in 2008 to 5.9% in 2009.
What surprises me is that the numbers are not higher — especially in the United States, where the “true” unemployment rate (“official” unemployment + unemployed people whose benefits have expired + people who are “underemployed” in part-time jobs that are insufficient to keep them out of poverty) is approaching 50% in some metropolitan areas. Many young lawyers are desperate to find any work that they can get, preferably in their profession.
What also surprises me is how many law firms appear to have completely overlooked part-time lawyers as a readily available, low-cost, high-yield resource, particularly in practice areas that are currently producing uncertain flows of new legal work.
Having a group of part-time attorneys with well-rounded professional knowledge and backgrounds, who are also available on relatively short notice, could make a big difference in measurable financial terms and competitiveness for new work. Part-time staff can also ensure that the firm has the basic service-delivery resources that will be needed when the economy enters a sustained recovery.
Walker Clark, LLC, advises our clients to consider using part-time lawyers and paralegals. We also help our clients to set up flexible plans and systems to recruit, manage, and incorporate these valuable “just in time” resources into their business plans and legal staffing. For more information about how we can help, contact me by email by clicking on this link or via our website.
Norman Clark
Tags: associates, economic crisis, profitability, recruiting, United States