Comments for Building a Better Legal Profession :: The Old Blog http://refirmation.wordpress.com A web resource for law students and lawyers dedicated to a better practice of law. Thu, 19 Apr 2007 20:21:22 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on An attrition culture? by Susan Martin http://refirmation.wordpress.com/2007/04/13/an-attrition-culture/#comment-9 Susan Martin Thu, 19 Apr 2007 20:21:22 +0000 http://refirmation.wordpress.com/2007/04/13/an-attrition-culture/#comment-9 I just learned of your project via the WSJ law and juggle blogs. Great work! As a business coach who has worked with a number of attorneys I see your work as vitally important - congratulations for going against the tide and standing up for something that could be life changing for attorneys in the future. I just learned of your project via the WSJ law and juggle blogs. Great work! As a business coach who has worked with a number of attorneys I see your work as vitally important – congratulations for going against the tide and standing up for something that could be life changing for attorneys in the future.

]]> Comment on An attrition culture? by Rudy http://refirmation.wordpress.com/2007/04/13/an-attrition-culture/#comment-8 Rudy Thu, 19 Apr 2007 04:56:24 +0000 http://refirmation.wordpress.com/2007/04/13/an-attrition-culture/#comment-8 What do you mean by your third point, "lack of transparent hours data?" Are firms misleading students about the numbers expected of starting associates? R What do you mean by your third point, “lack of transparent hours data?” Are firms misleading students about the numbers expected of starting associates?

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]]> Comment on An attrition culture? by blah http://refirmation.wordpress.com/2007/04/13/an-attrition-culture/#comment-7 blah Tue, 17 Apr 2007 05:44:51 +0000 http://refirmation.wordpress.com/2007/04/13/an-attrition-culture/#comment-7 Do you propose to put a ceiling on the number of hours a lawyer can work? If not, what is to stop a group of determined lawyers from starting a firm which puts in the hours necessary to serve clients? And, conversely, what is to stop you from starting a law firm in which the emphasis is not on efficiency or efficacy for the client, but on producing a comfortable sinecure with a stable home environment? As Guile said, nothing's stopping you from going home and being a family man :) Do you propose to put a ceiling on the number of hours a lawyer can work?

If not, what is to stop a group of determined lawyers from starting a firm which puts in the hours necessary to serve clients?

And, conversely, what is to stop you from starting a law firm in which the emphasis is not on efficiency or efficacy for the client, but on producing a comfortable sinecure with a stable home environment? As Guile said, nothing’s stopping you from going home and being a family man :)

]]> Comment on Welcome Law Blog readers! by Andy http://refirmation.wordpress.com/2007/04/03/welcome-law-blog-readers/#comment-6 Andy Wed, 11 Apr 2007 18:45:52 +0000 http://refirmation.wordpress.com/2007/04/03/welcome-law-blog-readers/#comment-6 The concept of reduced work at proportionate compensation is intriguing, but not realistic. The law firm still has to provide all of the fixed costs associated with the full-time employee (office space, recruitment costs, library etc), while getting less overall productivity from the worker. The more realistic option is to get reduced working time at a significant pay cut. Firms would get better productivity per hour (although they might not care because it is all passed through) and have more satisfied employees. If young associates were average people, instead of an incredibly competitive and perhaps greedy subset of the population, they would realize that it would be rational to trade significant income for more free time. Why not work 75% for 65% pay. Most junior associates would still be earning over $75,000. An associate now has perhaps 10 hours of completely free time per week. If that work load is lowered that free time would perhaps quadruple. I look at my salary as how much I am paying for my free time, and I know a deal when I see it. The concept of reduced work at proportionate compensation is intriguing, but not realistic. The law firm still has to provide all of the fixed costs associated with the full-time employee (office space, recruitment costs, library etc), while getting less overall productivity from the worker.

The more realistic option is to get reduced working time at a significant pay cut. Firms would get better productivity per hour (although they might not care because it is all passed through) and have more satisfied employees. If young associates were average people, instead of an incredibly competitive and perhaps greedy subset of the population, they would realize that it would be rational to trade significant income for more free time. Why not work 75% for 65% pay. Most junior associates would still be earning over $75,000. An associate now has perhaps 10 hours of completely free time per week. If that work load is lowered that free time would perhaps quadruple. I look at my salary as how much I am paying for my free time, and I know a deal when I see it.

]]> Comment on Student Resource: the Project for Attorney Retention by tekel http://refirmation.wordpress.com/2007/04/02/student-resource-the-project-on-attorney-retention/#comment-5 tekel Wed, 04 Apr 2007 02:54:43 +0000 http://refirmation.wordpress.com/2007/04/02/student-resource-the-project-on-attorney-retention/#comment-5 <strong>Would You Trade A Smaller Paycheck For A Better Work/Life Balance?</strong> The WSJ Law Blog points out an effort by some law students to change expectations at big law firms around the country. The story has provoked over 100 comments already.  Seems like they might be hitting close to home. ... Would You Trade A Smaller Paycheck For A Better Work/Life Balance?

The WSJ Law Blog points out an effort by some law students to change expectations at big law firms around the country. The story has provoked over 100 comments already.  Seems like they might be hitting close to home.
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