Eversheds research shows young lawyers are eager for reform of legal profession

Many young lawyers would like firms to embrace technology and transform outdated working practices in order to operate more like commercial businesses, according to new research from Eversheds.

The firm surveyed 1,800 young lawyers (aged 23-40) around the world. Some 35% felt that the legal profession does not use technology as effectively as it should to engage with clients and develop smarter working practices. Meanwhile, 39% of respondents felt that the partnership model under which law firms operate is out of place in the 21st Century. Nonetheless, 68% still said that they aspire to become partners; significantly, 77% of men said that they wanted to become partners, while only 57% of women said the same. The results also showed that there was less desire to attain partnership among respondents aged under 30.

Some 25% said that they would like a better work/life balance, while 38% said that flexible working is crucial to their future careers.

Finally, the research confirmed that ongoing gender inequality remains a severe problem in the legal profession. While women earn on average 30% more than men between the ages 21-25, after this point men generally earn more, with the pay gap continuing to widen further down the career path.

Lee Ranson, managing partner at Eversheds, said: "With nearly half of young lawyers surveyed saying they believe they can identify constructive ways to make their firms more efficient, it’s clear that these are voices that should be listened to. As this generation is voicing some concerns over how their career can fit with their life ambitions, it's important that the legal sector listens to and addresses these concerns so that it can continue to attract, build relationships with, and retain the brightest talent."