Survey says a quarter of associates to quit law this year
23 July 2010
According to a survey by recruitment consultancy Badenoch & Clark, the legal profession is set to lose 24% of its young talent in the coming year. Doh.

The survey claims that a third of those looking to escape the clutches of the law wanted a career break - otherwise known as a nice long holiday - whilst the rest "aimed to leave the law completely."
 
Reasons suggested for this high rate of associate attrition include personality and management issues which apparently demonstrate "a clear deterioration in the relationship between partners and associates". Other problems are a poor work/life balance and  the introduction of merit based pay without consultation - leaving hundreds of underperforming, facebook surfing associates quaking in their boots.

A former associate finds fewer personality clashes in his new job

The report reaches the startling conlusion that "with 16 per cent of professionals wanting to permanently leave legal practice, this has a clear implication on employee retention...". Searing analysis.

If talk equalled action, however, half the City would have jacked it all in to pursue more creative dreams of cup cake manufacture and historical novel writing. In any event, law firms shouldn't find it too hard to replace those who do flee the profession with fresh young crops of eager trainees-to-be spewing from the sausage factories hallowed halls of London's law schools.