Top 5 reasons people move jobs in the legal sector
Written by Cameran Waite.
Cameran Waite, Legal Recruiter for Yorkshire & the Northeast.
Last September, Bloomberg Law's Attorney Workload & Hours Survey reported that nearly half of all lawyers surveyed said they were either actively looking for new jobs or open to offers. By now we’ve all seen the stats, but what are the real reasons people are leaving law firms?
1) A lack of autonomy
Lawyers score 90% for wanting autonomy in their role. As a profession, it tends to attract hard-working and self-sufficient people who are used to independent study. As such, management has become a growing grievance for lawyers and a prime reason they consider leaving their roles. 57% of employees quit because of a bad boss and a further 69% quit due to micromanagement.
2) A difficult boss
Traditionally it has been argued that a difficult boss is something to rise above as it makes you a more resilient professional. However, having the thick skin that is often needed for a legal career is no excuse for putting up with mistreatment from your boss. More than seven out of ten people working in the legal sector claim their job has harmed their mental health and wellbeing. Korn Ferry found that the top stressor for professionals on the job, according to the survey, is too heavy of a workload 41% followed by their boss at 28%.
3) Salary
In the last couple of years there has been more research than ever on why people leave their jobs. The fact remains that salary is still one of, if not the, most important aspect of people’s current job and a very common reason for leaving.
Salary is also a key motivator for dropping out of recruitment processes and taking counteroffers. It can be tempting to take an offer from a previous employer, especially if it is more lucrative but this can be a short term fix for long term problems and you could face the ire of a boss who has lost faith in your longevity.
4) Unfair work allocation
It is becoming increasingly important for employees to ensure they are setting fair and appropriate standards and expectations for workloads. A shocking 97% of junior lawyers complain that stress is impacting their health. Encouraging small breaks and communicating clear deadlines can be an effective and beneficial way to help employees work hard without burning out.
5) How leaders deliver feedback
A negative feedback culture can be a powerful contributing factor to people leaving their jobs. The bottom line is that if employees receive harsh feedback before having a constructive or supportive conversation, their fight or flight is likely to kick in. How you deliver feedback and communicate with staff can go a long way to retaining key players. Scrutinizing small mistakes instead of normalizing and learning from them could be causing employees to jump ship prematurely.
Regardless of the reasons, sometimes you know when it’s time to move on. Whether you’re frustrated with the pressure of a difficult boss, a lack of autonomy, salary, unfair work pressures or negative feedback – there are always better opportunities on offer.
Cameran Waite is a skilled Legal Recruitment Consultant working with top-tier law firms in the Yorkshire & North East regions.
He has experience supporting legal talent in career-defining moves. Cameran covers a broad range of legal disciplines, including Litigation, Family, Private Client, Residential and Commercial Property, Employment and Commercial Law.
cameran.waite@williamjamesrecruitment.com
0113 511 7115 | 07951 097 638
Whether you’re at the start of your legal career or looking for a step up – we can help.
Get in touch with us now - the right fit could be just a confidential call away.
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