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12 January 2024 / Nigel Clark
Issue: 8054 / Categories: Features , Profession
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Out with the old… in with the new

Nigel Clark looks forward to some radical change in 2024
  • Proposes lawyers adopt a different approach to client fees, billing targets, the partnership model and the long-hours culture.

Now 2024 has arrived, I have been reflecting on my 25-year career in the legal sector during which I’ve worked in ‘Big Law’ across four countries and three continents, and with alternative, consultancy platforms including my own which merged with Nexa back in 2017.

While I am passionate about the UK legal sector, it would be fair to say that, in my opinion, many aspects of it need to modernise or, at least, require a new approach, starting with….

The billable hour, machismo firm culture & the gender pay gap

From the moment we qualify as lawyers we know how much billable time we must do each day, week, month, year to prosper in our law firms and progress in our careers.

Philip Larkin asked, ‘Why should I let the toad work/ Squat on my life?’ as he railed

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Clarke Willmott—Matthew Roach

Partner joins commercial property team in Taunton office

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Farrer & Co—Richard Lane

Londstanding London firm appoints new senior partner

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Bird & Bird—Sue McLean

Commercial team in London welcomes technology specialist as partner

NEWS
NLJ's latest Charities Appeals Supplement has been published in this week’s issue
The number of misconduct reports to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has doubled in the past five years, after a series of industry scandals highlighted the reputational and regulatory risks involved
It’s game, set but not quite match for the All England Lawn Tennis Ground (AELTG) in its dream of expanding its West London grounds
One in four partners at top 50 and one in five at top 250 firms are considering leaving their firm in the next three years, according to a survey by TBD Marketing
A flat-rate, ‘events-based’ redress scheme for families of postmasters severely affected by the Horizon IT miscarriage of justice scandal is due to open in the summer
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