If there was ever a year when employee satisfaction could be expected to take a battering, 2009 was surely the one. Redundancies, pay freezes and cost-cutting provided a steady source of grist for the industry rumour mill. No matter how sensitively these matters are handled, uncertainty inevitably breeds insecurity. In such an environment, it was a particular challenge for law firms to keep lawyers both engaged and motivated.
As always, however, a tough environment provides an opportunity to shine. ALB congratulates all the most highly-ranked firms of the 2010 Employer of Choice survey
Associates: the driving force
In this year's EOC survey, Jun He dominated the results - performing the most consistently across all six categories. Although the firm imposed a four-day working week for some of its lawyers and staff during Q2 and Q3 of 2009, ALB China readers - particularly lawyers outside Jun He - still have a very high opinion of the firm and have rated it the top law firm to work for.
David Liu, senior partner and a member of the management committee, attributed this positive outcome to the firm's no-redundancy policy during the market slowdown, as well as the promotion opportunities offered to younger generation lawyers. "Our firm's culture determined that we would not go down the path of making redundancies. We treat every member of the firm like family. So partners undertook financial sacrifices and adopted some alternative work arrangements to ensure the job security of our employees," says Liu.
While Jun He offers its staff a compensation and bonus package that is among the most generous of all the PRC firms, it has also recognised more imperative needs of ambitious lawyers who want to feel appreciated and fulfilled career-wise. Three years ago, the firm established a program to help individual lawyers establish career goals and to help them achieve these goals. In addition, the firm has created a multi-level partnership comprising of salaried partners (non-equity), limited equity partners and full-equity partners, as well as adopting the counsel post to widen the channel of promotion.
In the past few months, Jun He has promoted a large number of lawyers to partner and counsel - most of them in their mid-thirties. Currently, thirtysomething lawyers account for nearly 50% of the firm's 95 partners and counsel - this is up 20% from just two years ago. "Our management committee has come to an agreement to place younger generations on the partner track. Younger lawyers, particularly the thirtysomethings, are an up-and-coming force of our firm," says Liu. "They are following market trends closely, acquiring skills and knowledge in emerging practices very fast, working incredible hours and contributing significantly to business development.
"Stronger teamwork ability and a focus on specialised areas of law are among the other important features of the younger generation lawyers. They will contribute to the firm's furtherintegration and modernisation," Liu adds.
For many lawyers who want to join the firm, Liu has delivered a good message. He says that Jun He has set up plans for two more rounds of promotions and lateral hires this year, both because the firm's recruitment plans were slowed last year due to market conditions and due to its strategic decision to beef up new practice groups - including WTO and international trade, and IP.
Grandall, who is a newcomer to the EOC title, has employed a similar strategy. "We actively promote younger lawyers and encourage them to be in the front line, working on cutting-edge transactions and integrating with clients. More interaction with clients means more job satisfaction for lawyers," says Ni. "And as we operate as a true 'firm', not a collection of lawyers sharing an office, new partners usually have less pressure in terms of financial contribution and business development. They have enough time and a supportive environment to build up their own client base and book of business."
In 2009, Grandall not only didn't make any staff redundancies but also continued to recruit and expand its numbers last year.
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