The myth of work-life balance in big firms

Here is an interesting article in the Guardian about work-life balance – or the lack thereof – in large law firms. The article observes that firms maintain the fiction of the balance during recruitment because well-rounded individuals are better for business than legal nerds – they have the personal skill necessary to relate to clients; they are more likely to bring in business; and they are less inclined to become overwhelmed when they need to multitask and manage heavy workloads. In the past, the industry has had a high attrition rate, with London firms losing 15 per cent of their headcount every year. But the downturn has eliminated many of the alternative options for lawyers that are unhappy with life in a big firm, and many are forced to stay where they are. It is in this context that firms have ramped up a range of initiatives designed to give lawyers more and better options for configuring their career in a way that allows them to stay sane. These initiatives inclue flexible working options, secondment programs in overseas offices, or a non-partnership career track. Meanwhile, across town, a new wave of ‘virtual law firms’ has emerged to offer lawyers work on a flexible freelance basis…

The myth of work-life balance in big firms guardian.co.uk Fri, Jul 1, 2011