header-logo header-logo

09 May 2019 / David Dolding , Martin Parish
Issue: 7839 / Categories: Features , Profession , Pensions
printer mail-detail

Back to school

Financial stress: most law firms agree they have a role in financially educating their staff, say David Dolding & Martin Parish

  • What can law firms and individuals do?
  • Self-employment and retirement savings.

An overwhelming 93.6% of law firms agree, according to recent research, that they have a role in financially educating their staff beyond pensions guidance (see ‘HR in Law and Aon 2019 Employee Benefits Survey’, April 2019). This is positive, but are they acting on it?

In our view as advisers, action can’t come soon enough from firms and individuals. It’s been a long-held perception that financial pressures are solely the preserve of lower earners, but it’s become clear that financial stress overwhelmingly impacts the well-paid too. Large houses and mortgages, private school education for kids, holidays, cars; the expenses are high and can create constant, often hidden, pressures.

It doesn’t take much to scratch the surface and see how acute financial pressures impact an individual’s emotional wellbeing. Keeping a certain standard of living can be a concern—wealthy

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Laytons ETL—Maximilian Kraitt

Laytons ETL—Maximilian Kraitt

Commercial firm strengthens real estate disputes team with associate hire

Switalskis—three appointments

Switalskis—three appointments

Firm appoints three directors to board

Browne Jacobson—seven promotions

Browne Jacobson—seven promotions

Six promoted to partner and one to legal director across UK and Ireland offices

NEWS

From blockbuster judgments to procedural shake-ups, the courts are busy reshaping litigation practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School hails the Court of Appeal's 'exquisite judgment’ in Mazur restoring the role of supervised non-qualified staff, and highlights a ‘mammoth’ damages ruling likened to War and Peace, alongside guidance on medical reporting fees, where a pragmatic 25% uplift was imposed

Momentum is building behind proposals to restrict children’s access to social media—but the legal and practical challenges are formidable. In NLJ this week, Nick Smallwood of Mills & Reeve examines global moves, including Australia’s under-16 ban and the UK's consultation
Reforms designed to rebalance landlord-tenant relations may instead penalise leaseholders themselves. In this week's NLJ, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective warns that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 risks creating an ‘underclass’ of resident-controlled freehold companies
Timing is everything—and the Court of Appeal has delivered clarity on when proceedings are ‘brought’. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains that a claim is issued for limitation purposes when the claim form is delivered to the court, even if fees are underpaid
The traditional ‘single, intensive day’ of financial dispute resolution (FDR) may be due for a rethink. Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Frost-Smith and Lauren Guiler of Birketts propose a ‘split FDR’ model, separating judicial evaluation from negotiation
back-to-top-scroll