With the continuing pandemic and adaptable approaches to flexible & home based working still very much needed we thought you would find this recent blog written by one of our clients, Taylor Rose, interesting. It's an insightful read into what the pandemic has taught them so far in regards to working and the need for the ever growing sector of working on a consultancy basis.
To find out more about becoming a Legal Consultant and to view our current vacancies please click here or call and speak to one of our specialist Legal Consultants on the below numbers:
- Birmingham (0121 454 1004),
- Leeds (0113 320 0575),
- London (0207 183 8586) or
- Manchester (0161 850 0745)
Alternatively we can be contacted by email at enl@enllegal.co.uk; we look forward to hearing from you.
In the wake of the pandemic, businesses have had to redefine resilience all over again. This includes even the most prepared business infrastructure having to adapt to a fast-changing environment. However, the pandemic has also changed how we undergo our day to day working lives.
The question is now, what have we learned and how will we take this new experience forward?
Flexible does not equal unproductive
The statistics are as clear as they are relatable for most of us in the legal sector. Working life pre-Covid was taking its toll on legal professional’s mental and physical health.
The SBA (Solicitors Charity) 2019 statistics showed a 19% increase in mental health issues from 2018. These statistics also show that two in every three solicitors now have mental health issues.
It was reported that:
- 32% have poor mental health
- 31% are suffering from multiple health issues
- 17% of legal professionals have serious long-term conditions.
These numbers are alarming and only increasing, with the most common cause being stress. This can be directly related to large targets and caseloads, client and firm expectations, and the rigidity of a working environment which doesn’t accommodate a lifestyle balance.
Covid has created a shift in paradigm. Professionals have demonstrated throughout the pandemic that they can successfully self-manage, motivate, and structure their work when accompanied by a strong framework and IT solutions.
The pandemic has highlighted that with the right communication, tools, and supportive infrastructure, flexibility does not equal unproductive.
Tools such as Zoom, Teams, and remote access CMS’s have allowed for 60% of the population to work from home. Legal professionals are starting to question why this can’t be part of a wider and more sustainable change.
Already in motion
Unsurprisingly few are wanting to resume relentless long working hours that do not accommodate professional or personal fulfilment. Some may be surprised to know that this way of flexible working without sacrificing career aspirations was already available long before Covid in the form of our consultancy model.
Our model already takes into account what has been learnt from our Covid working experiences. Our consultants are able to find a balance between practicing law and a lifestyle that suits them.
Our Consultants determine their hours, caseload, working environment, and fee structures. They will directly financially benefit from their caseload whilst accessing the back-office support and facilities which you would normally see in a large firm.
Law and a lifestyle
With the impact of the pandemic still to be fully realised, the next steps that each legal professional take will be important in setting the precedent for how we all work going forward and the collective well being of our industry peers.
If the pandemic has taught us anything about working, it is that we can and should expect more from our working life and most importantly, that this change is possible and available to us.