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The Legal Practice Management Association - Talk on flexible working

The LPMA asked me to come and talk to them about the business case of flexible working in the legal profession, both for solicitors in law firms and for barristers practising at the Bar. Although working flexibly as a Barrister is partly feasible, it comes with its own complications such as how Chambers rent is to be fairly attributed between barristers who work from Chambers full time and those who are only there part-time.

This topic hadn’t really been looked at by the time I was asked to look into it but is being more closely investigated by the Bar Council..

Chair’s Report excerpt

Since the last Newsletter we have held three very successful events. In March of this year Anna Kavanagh from Time4Balance made the case for flexible working. We’ve all heard about the need to get a work/life balance but Anna’s presentation made the business case for introducing policies which allow staff and practitioners to take time to be with children, as carers, to reduce stress, to reduce commuting time, to work at home. By 2010 only 20% of the workforce (in all sectors) will be white, able-bodied men under 45. This means that employers will have to consider policies that cater to the needs of a different and diverse workforce if they want to retain good people. Stephen Irwin QC, the current Chairman of the Bar Council has been particularly keen to raise awareness of this issue and Anna’s presentation will be published in Counsel magazine later this year to reach a wider audience.

http://www.lpma.org.uk/news.asp?id=153