Demand for new talent at law firms is down, making this the softest recruiting cycle since the Great Recession. NALP, an association of legal professionals, has released its Perspectives on 2023 Law Student Recruiting report which reflects how the market is readjusting from the post-pandemic hiring surge that seems to have left many law firms with talent levels that are … [Read more...] about Demand for law talent is down, way down
Our staff fell for a cyber attack
By Lynne Curry Question: Four of our staffers fell for a cyber attack last week. They opened an email attachment they thought originated from our HR department, which regularly emails policy updates to all staff. This email had the subject line: Changes to Vacation Policies. Even though we’ve trained our staff members not to click on suspicious emails, and … [Read more...] about Our staff fell for a cyber attack
Four fixes for job burnout
By Lynne Curry Are you burned out and not sure how to fix it? In 2024, emails from burned-out managers and employees have flooded my workplace coach inbox. Here’s what some have said: “I’m running on empty;” “mentally exhausted and emotionally drained;” “constantly on edge and irritable;” “on autopilot, just going through the motions, and don’t see any way out.” If … [Read more...] about Four fixes for job burnout
Firms put the brakes on lateral hiring in 2023 – falling 35% from 2022
The lateral hiring market showed continued signs of a course correction in 2023, with lateral lawyer hiring down 35% overall, following 2022’s decline of 11.5%, according to the latest analyses from NALP’s 2023 Lateral Hiring Survey. NALP is an association of more than 3,000 legal career professionals who advise law students, lawyers, law offices, and law schools in North … [Read more...] about Firms put the brakes on lateral hiring in 2023 – falling 35% from 2022
To-Dos: Your July office checklist
According to best-selling author Regina Brett, "Summer is the annual permission slip to be lazy. To do nothing and have it count for something. To lie in the grass and count the stars. To sit on a branch and study the clouds." You wish! That might happen on the weekend—if you're lucky—but Monday to Friday, there's still plenty of work to do at the office. Here are some … [Read more...] about To-Dos: Your July office checklist
How to revive workplace friendships
By Lynne Curry Those casual everyday conversations we once enjoyed as we started our workday or ran into each other in the breakroom largely ended during the pandemic. For some, particularly those who work remotely or on a hybrid schedule, these conversations and workplace friendships never resumed. A recent survey of 3,000 U.S. employees revealed 69 percent felt … [Read more...] about How to revive workplace friendships
New research: Tech skills gap is bad amid rapid change
Rapid change, evolving business priorities and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) have created a significant challenge for today’s tech leaders: critical skills gaps on their teams. This is according to a new report, Building Future-Forward Tech Teams, from talent solutions and business consulting firm Robert Half. More than half of technology leaders surveyed (52 per … [Read more...] about New research: Tech skills gap is bad amid rapid change
Who’s going to win the return-to-office battle?
By Lynne Curry After the pandemic wound to a close, employers began pushing employees to return to the office. Fifty percent of U.S. employers issued a full or hybrid RTO (return to office) mandate in 2022 and 2023, and almost all employers planned implementing an RTO mandate before the end of 2024. Employers perceived, and many experienced, benefits from implementing … [Read more...] about Who’s going to win the return-to-office battle?
How to use client exit surveys to improve service and increase revenue
Don't close out a matter without measuring the client's satisfaction. Do that with a survey that covers everything from the legal services to the freshness of the coffee. A survey gathers information that can help the firm do a better job. It highlights the areas of excellence. And it reveals the areas of dissatisfaction clients don't mention—except to other … [Read more...] about How to use client exit surveys to improve service and increase revenue
Model Policy: Religious Accommodations
Mere tolerance of religious differences in the workplace isn’t enough. Federal and state discrimination laws also require employers to take affirmative steps to accommodate the religious beliefs of employees and job applicants to the point of undue hardship. The starting point for compliance is implementing an accommodations policy. … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Religious Accommodations