With the economy being what it is (“blechy”), we got to wondering what’s going on with that Stanford-born group of law students that’s pushed for Big Law changes like lower billable requirements. You might remember this May 2007 story the National Law Journal (one of our affiliates) did on Law Students Building a Better Legal Profession, reporting thusly:
"Here's my sense: Many students are concerned about increasing billable-hour expectations and high attrition rates at large law firms," said Andrew Canter, co-founder of Law Students Building a Better Legal Profession. The organization of more than 100 law students from top schools last month called on big firms to reduce billable-hour requirements and implement balanced-life programs, at reduced pay to associates, if necessary.
Demanding better working conditions in a layoff economy, and plugging the new book, after the jump ...
We wondered whether work-life balance remains such a hot issue, now that many firms are laying off associates. Aren’t people just glad to have a place to work? So we checked in with current president and Stanford 2L Davida Brook this morning. Turns out, the group — now a registered nonprofit — still has a lot going on: research into partnership structures at various firms, more campus tours, and a spanking-new book. As for the economy, she said, “It really has only shown us how relevant and necessary the work we’re doing is” — because with some firms either imploding or, more commonly, laying people off, it seems more important than ever to cast your lot with a firm carefully.
In addition to profits and clients, and even legacy LSBBLP issues like diversity and attrition, firms should also be selling recruits on their survivability, Brook said. “The message is still, ‘You can make a more educated … maybe more moral decision about where to work, even though the economy isn’t very strong.’” LSBBLP took that message to 20 highly ranked law schools this fall, making presentations to crowds of about 75 to 100 people.
Another type of information that Brook says "everyone wants": Attrition data. "This downturn shows you just how useful that would have been to know." Knowing which firms are "bleeding attorneys" — and what kind of attorneys — could tell help law students pick a firm and practice area that fits their goals, whether they're looking for diversity, a family-friendly lifestyle, or stability.
And until, you know, firms get more transparent about that kind of thing, LSBBLP (they’ve gotta work on that abbreviation) is doing its best to gather intel. It has expanded its research efforts — last year it did a scorecard on diversity, pro bono and billable hours — from six to 11 markets. The group is also busy now trying to quantify firms’ equity and non-equity partner ranks, so students can have a clearer picture of how attainable, diverse and profitable partner status is.
Finally, LSBBLP has a book coming out in January: Building a Better Legal Profession's Guide to Law Firms.
And work-life balance? It’s still part of the equation, but a part that the group is rebranding. “As a Stanford student people just think you’re a brat who wants to make a lot of money and not work as much,” Brook said. Now they talk more about smart work, emphasizing quality outcomes over face time.
— Pam Smith
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