This year really has been delivering on the sporting front (maybe not so much for England but we’ll leave that there) from Fury v Usyk, Lewis Hamilton winning at Silverstone, a dry(ish) Wimbledon, to the excitement of England reaching the final in the Euros. One would have thought the summer sporting excitement was on the home stretch. However, we are now eagerly awaiting the Olympic Games and Paralympics.
The numerous sporting events have been a great distraction for many of us, but these can present challenges for law firms and inevitably lead to an increase in last minute annual leave requests and additional sick days from employees. One such challenge is ensuring continuous, high-quality levels of service that your firm and clients expect. Securing interim/locum cover during this time becomes essential for many law firms and In-House organisations to maintain operational stability.
Here at Chadwick Nott, our interim candidates are here to help, support and take the load off your teams. With more legal professionals choosing the interim career path we work with excellent calibre candidates who are available at short notice and can hit the ground running with minimal to no training. Interim candidates can provide a well needed extra pair of hands during busy periods, whether that is for maternity cover, sickness, project-based work, extra support or recruitment gap cover.
Like many of us, with our busy day-to-day lives and working patterns, you can be forgiven for putting recruitment on hold. However, with the school holidays within touching distance, now is the time to pick up those diaries and see whether your team could benefit from additional interim support.
The months of July, August and September can be particularly difficult for firms if they have not planned ahead or organised interim or locum cover. This summer is set to cause further challenges with the additional worldwide sporting events. For firms to avoid any shortages of staff and to continue to provide a first-class service and to progress clients’ files in a timely manner, it is strongly advised to:
Plan Ahead - Identify Needs Early
- Anticipate the periods when staff members will be on leave and determine the areas where cover is most needed.
- If you are aware of multiple employees on annual leave at the same time or have gaps to fill due to resignations (we are all aware of the dreaded three month notice period) it is best to let us know of your potential requirements as soon as you are aware of them.
Define Requirements Clearly - Role Responsibilities & Skill Set
- Specify the duties and responsibilities of the locum role. Clearly outline the skills, qualifications, and experience required for the interim position. This ensures you attract candidates who can seamlessly integrate into your firm. Clear expectations help locum professionals prepare adequately and perform efficiently.
Utilise Professional Legal Recruitment Agencies - Locum Agencies
- Partner with a reputable locum agency that specialise in the legal industry.
- Chadwick Nott work with interim lawyers and paralegals nationally who cover all practice areas. Our candidates are pre-screened and are available for short term assignments to longer term work or large projects.
Many interim lawyers that I have spoken to have echoed this message. For firms and In-House teams, it is important to be organised - many of our interim candidates have reported numerous last-minute calls from agencies and firms which is echoed further by the last minute instructions that we are seeing. Not only does this impact the firm with added strain and pressure on departments, but also impacts on the interim lawyer’s personal arrangements.
Statistics show that absence has a damaging impact on any business and with the average number of sick days seeing a reported increase last year, it is important for firms to be on the ball, to know your Chadwick Nott consultant’s contact details and to pick up the phone as soon as you are aware of any shortage of staff or spikes in work. Not only will this ensure that your firm and departments have adequate cover but it will also ensure that you are the front runner with access to the best candidates in the market and not paying over the odds for good quality and reliable interim lawyers
The summer of sport is a time of excitement and relaxation for many, but it also poses unique challenges for law firms and In-House organisations. So, if you would like to have the upper hand during the summer months and in this buoyant and competitive market to ensure your department navigates this period smoothly.
For a confidential discussion, please contact Bianca Gibbs at Chadwick Nott.
(t) 0117 917 1860
(m) 0776 924 1524
(e) biancagibbs@Chadwicknott.co.uk
