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What firm cultivates the most young talent?
Lawyers Weekly has extrapolated data from its 30 Under 30 finalist talent pool to determine which firms are recruiting the profession’s top up-and-comers.
Emma Musgrave
The 30 Under 30 showcases professional excellence in those new-to-industry who demonstrate a passion for the business of law.
In the meantime, Lawyers Weekly has uncovered which firms have the most prominent representation throughout the categories.
Our data has revealed that Herbert Smith Freehills has the most total finalists in the 30 Under 30, with 11 all up.
In second place with the most total finalists is King & Wood Mallesons with 10. This is followed by MinterEllison and DLA Piper who both have eight finalists in the 30 Under 30.
Gilbert + Tobin claims the next highest number of finalists with six, and Clayton Utz and McCullough Robertson both have five.
Allens, Ashurst and Norton Rose Fulbright round up the top 10 firms in terms of number of finalists in the 30 Under 30, with each having four.
As the legal market is increasingly competitive, it’s become even more crucial for firms to maintain their focus on attracting the best and brightest to their fold.
As junior lawyers’ expectations change, firms are encouraged to change too, enabling them to foster this homegrown talent.
Lawyers Weekly recently published a report by MLA Global on the evolution of these up-and-comers. The report touched on where the respondents, the bulk of which were made up of those new-to-industry lawyers, saw themselves in 10 years.
In the report, 33.93 per cent of respondents stated they expect to be a partner at their current firm, while 9.71 per cent said they expect to be a partner at another firm.
Almost 20 per cent said they expect to be involved in in-house counsel in 10 years, 16 per cent said working for government or a non-profit organisation, 6.25 per cent said running their own firm or practice and 8.82 per cent said not practising law.
Not one respondent selected the option of being involved in legal academia in 10 years.
The report also revealed variables as to what would make them accept a potential employer’s job offer.
The majority of respondents cited firm culture as the most important variable, followed by work/life balance, then career prospects, compensation, practice strength, location, prestige and training on offer – in that order.
The focus on the next generation of lawyers should not be lost. That’s why it’s even more integral to support them through initiatives like the 30 Under 30.
For more information about this year’s event, click here.
To purchase tickets, click here.
Emma Musgrave
Emma Musgrave (née Ryan) is the managing editor, professional services at Momentum Media.
Emma has worked for Momentum Media since 2015, including five years spent as the editor of the company's legal brand - Lawyers Weekly. Throughout her time at Momentum, she has been responsible for breaking some of the biggest stories in corporate Australia. In addition, she has produced exclusive multimedia and event content related to the company's respective brands and audiences.
Prior to joining Momentum Media, Emma worked in breakfast radio, delivering news to the Central West region of NSW, before taking on a radio journalist role at Southern Cross Austereo, based in Townsville, North Queensland.
She holds a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) degree from Charles Sturt University.
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