Having the sharpest legal mind and top grades is no longer enough to assure a glittering career in Law.
“Trying to succeed simply on the basis of being the best lawyer is a limited career strategy,” says comparelegaljobs.com’s resident coach Dr Andy Bass. “People entering the profession are bright and motivated, but they aren’t always commercially aware. Many actually resist the idea that law is a business, which is an old-fashioned attitude, and increasingly, a big mistake.
“This collaboration with comparelegaljobs.com is aimed at offering those in their early careers the guidance to help them win business as well as points of law.”
(The comparelegaljobs site is specifically designed to address the common frustrations of law firms and candidates by allowing them both greater control of the recruitment process.)
Dr Bass, formerly of Aston Business School, where he was director of the Psychology & Management programme, joined forces with comparelegaljobs.com after a meeting with joint MDs and founders Tim Bates and Charles Magill. “I’d known Tim for a number of years, and he invited me to look at their new venture. I was extremely impressed not only with the idea, but also with how committed he and Charles were to executing it properly. It’s one thing to have a good idea, but I’ve been highly impressed by the way Tim and Charles have gone about the delivery. They’ve signed up some terrific clients in significant numbers across the UK.
“What I bring to the offer is help for younger professionals to look to develop their commercial side. Often it’s the ability to relate, over and above their professional credentials, that singles out one lawyer from another in the estimation of the client” says Dr Bass. “It can be hard for someone with traditional legal training to accept that being ‘good’ or ‘right’ are often not enough to persuade a client to take your advice, or indeed to instruct you in the first place.”
“Young lawyers have spent their school and University days learning that you get ahead by achieving good marks and doing well at tasks set by others. After a few years PQE the rules change, they are no longer under supervision 24/7, ambiguity increases and it can be disorientating. “
“Things are changing. Ambitious firms need help with building teams who have that commercial edge and a hunger to build business if they are to flourish.”
Dr Andrew Bass is the voice of comparelegaljobs.com’s Career Centre.
- comparelegaljobs.com combines the benefits of a traditional agency and a job board at a fraction of the price of a recruitment consultancy service, with applications processed either via the employer’s dedicated micro site or through an in-house recruitment team.
- Dr Bass is a consultant with experience working with international law and big four accounting firms as well as large corporates. He is an active contributor to Aston Business School’s Centre for Executive Development and is a Director of Birmingham Forward, the professional services networking and lobbying group. He has had articles published in Career Development International, Legal Week and Managing Partner magazine. He is programme facilitator for the Birmingham Future Mentoring Scheme.
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