challenges faced by young lawyers and the answer of liège's bar
DESCRIPTION
This presentation, shown at CCBE standing comittee of January 24, 2014, addresses the main concerns of young lawyers and some of the answers provided by Liège's Bar.TRANSCRIPT
A. CASSART | [email protected]
The experience of a young lawyer from the Liège’s Bar
Me Alexandre CASSART (Philippe & Partners)
A. CASSART | [email protected]
Sources
The results of the survey conducted in 2013 by Avocats.be and the University of Liège (“Baromètre des avocats belges francophones et germanophones”)
Answers from a range of questions asked to other members of Liège’s Young Bar Association
My personal experience
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A. CASSART | [email protected]
Main Concerns : Money
Internship and collaboration are often paid less than most other legal jobs (and than most other jobs) Income from Legal Aid – a major source of revenue for lawyers under 35 - are decreasing steadily.Very hard to cope with planning of payment from Legal Aid (ex-post, more than a year after the end of the service)Tough competition
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A. CASSART | [email protected]
Main Concerns : Time
Young (but not only them) lawyers want better balance between private and professional life
62,5% of lawyers would work less if they could.
Especially young mother (but not only them)
However, young lawyer are not lazyLawyers under 35 take 3,6 weeks of holiday in a year (4,4 for lawyers over 50)
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A. CASSART | [email protected]
Main Concerns : Time
Legislative InflationHard to stay up to date
Clients are more and more demanding, especially on availability and responsiveness
Need to be constantly connected
Clients are increasingly well informed (or believe to be) through Internet
Need to provide a service with higher added value, thus to spend more time in learning, training and specializing
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A. CASSART | [email protected]
Main concerns : Future
Tough CompetitionBetween lawyers but also between lawyers and others legal services’ providers
Limited possibilities of partnershipEspecially for woman
Out of 44 partners in the four largest firms in Liège, only 10 are women
? Lack of entrepreneurship / lack of business skill ?
« Did hunter-gatherers become farmers ? »
Evolution of the professionFrom an independant well-born bourgeois to a highly specialized business firm
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A. CASSART | [email protected]
Answers of Liège’s Bar
For years, Liège’s Bar strives to tackle these issues
New (2013) traineeship contract - Increased minimum rates for trainees
Collectivization of several insurances
Assistance provided to lawyers struggling (especially younger’s one but not only)
Organization and monitoring of ongoing formation - Formation in “marketing” and communication
Activities to strengthen the social fabric between lawyers and confraternity
Continuous reflection on the future of the profession: the conference “Tomorrow’s lawyer”
Online Consultation
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A. CASSART | [email protected]
Example
In june 2013, a working party of Liège’s Bar issued a new traineeship contract
Before : the trainee had to work at least 75 hours per month for a fixed amount of EUR 882 gross (May 2013)
The more you work, the less you earn
Now : the trainee has to work at least 75 hours per month for a minimum hourly rate of EUR 16 (EUR 1.200 gross min.)
The more you work, the more you earn
The main motivation of the working group was lawyer’s dignity
F.Y.I : Belgian poverty treshold is set at EUR 1.000 net per month
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A. CASSART | [email protected]
Example
Liège’s Bar implemented an Online Consultation plug inFreeAvailable on the Bar’s website (directory) and on lawyer’s personal websiteDirectory presents attorney without distinguishing between young and experienced onesA good way to collectivize access to all lawyer
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A. CASSART | [email protected]
Example
Liège’s Bar pays particular attention to communication and « marketing »
The Bar organizes different conferences strongly oriented towards businessess and entrusts (young) lawyers with the presentation
The Bar is really active on social networks and regularly puts in the light lawyers who practice in a specific area
The Bar organizes various formations to teach lawyers how to communicate better, how to use social networks and even how to create their own web site.
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A. CASSART | [email protected]
WWW.TOMORROWSLAWYER.BE/
February 20 and 21, 2014Palais des congrèsLiègeAlso on Streaming & VOD
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An international panel of high level academics and connoisseurs of the professionOrganised by young lawyers to the attention of all lawyers
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