BEIJING FOREIGN LAW FIRMS RECEIVE POSITIVE COMMENTS ON WORKING ENVIRONMENT
July 09, 2008 | BY
clpstaff &clp articlesLawyers prefer foreign firms' style of leadership over domestic firms' style because the former has more transparency in decision making, strategy,…
Lawyers prefer foreign firms' style of leadership over domestic firms' style because the former has more transparency in decision making, strategy, and promotion on merit, according to a survey conducted by METCALF & Q.
Having interviewed over 100 lawyers working for foreign law firms in Beijing, the market survey focused on lawyers' experiences of working in the capital and their thoughts on their working environment, leadership and management.
The survey found that foreign firms have a leadership style that is confident, trustworthy, and approachable, and that has a genuine interest in professional development. Most respondents tended to prefer a leadership style that focuses on individuals rather than execution of a strategy, and they favour a leader who keeps in touch with all levels of staff, regardless of nationality, seniority or role in the firm, according to the report.
Yet respondents see poor integration and teamwork as well as the inability to retain clients and staff as foreign firms' leadership weaknesses. Lack of competent staff, the failure to attract the best lawyers, and poorly executed human resources strategies are also seen as foreign firms' drawbacks.
In terms of management, respondents praised foreign law firms' training, supervision and professional development. They also think positively of the firms' efficiency in handling workload between individuals and offices. While they see good training as one of the most critical areas in supervision work, professional development in the form of mentoring, often by a partner, is also necessary. “This mentoring was not only on offer to junior levels of lawyers. In some instances, provision of a mentor or the option to find one, and for the new partner to be a mentor to a more junior lawyer, was seen as a good way for new partners to integrate property with their new firm,” the report says.
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