The rumors whirling in legal recruiter circles have law firm associates increasingly disgruntled, as their rising salaries intensify the push for more billable hours. Perhaps that is why the head of recruitment and development at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis says her firm is ramping up efforts to give associates more of a say in firm initiatives.
Kirkpatrick associates from around the world gathered in Washington during the last week of March to participate in what the firm deems an “associates’ symposium.” Susan Fried, chief officer of recruitment and development, says the associates worked in small groups to brainstorm new programs and initiatives. “The associates come up with the things they think can benefit the firm,” she says. So that they could freely discuss their ideas, firm management only participated during the last half-hour of each session.
However, Fried adds, the associates did get important face-time with firm leaders, and the symposium culminated with associates presenting their ideas to partners. The symposium, she predicts, will be “the source of future initiatives.”
One of the new programs pitched involves counting more pro bono hours toward bonus targets. To be eligible for a bonus, associates must bill 1950 hours. Currently, 50 of those hours can come from “developmentally rich” pro bono work. At the symposium, Fried says, associates asked to increase that amount to 100 hours for first-years and 75 hours for second-years. Firm management, she says, plans to do just that.
Fried says that Kirkpatrick has held these symposiums “sporadically” since 2000, but that the firm will make it an annual event from now on. Next year’s venue is already booked.
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