Philip Henson’s Post

Can we take a moment to acknowledge all the public interest lawyers out there who go out every day and do the work that many of us business lawyers are too scared to do? I’m talking about the prosecutors who take on impossible caseloads to seek justice. The public defenders who fight tooth and nail to ensure the Constitution applies to everyone, not just the wealthy. The housing lawyers who stand up to landlords that bulldoze over the vulnerable. The immigration attorneys who defend clients against an overwhelming system. The JAG lawyers who navigate the complexities of military justice, ensuring fairness and upholding the rule of law even under the most challenging circumstances. This work requires grit, courage, and a commitment to a purpose far greater than individual reward. These lawyers often work for low pay, under crushing pressure, and with limited resources. And yet, they show up every day because they believe in something that too many of us forget: the law isn’t just a tool for profit—it’s also a tool for change. As a business lawyer, I admire their conviction and sacrifice. They remind me of the ideals that inspired many of us to go to law school in the first place. So here’s to them. Let’s celebrate their work and remember that while our practices may look different, we’re all part of the same profession, and there’s always something we can learn from their example. Who’s a public interest lawyer you admire? Share their story in the comments—let’s give them the recognition they deserve.

5 Best States for Lawyers in the USA to Work In

Clifford Chance have just matched Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's and Linklaters' GBP£150,000 for NQ lawyers. Paul Hodkinson of Law.com International asks "Is there a maximum number in this salary race?": "The gap between the leading U.S. firms and everyone else has been growing for some time. When law firm leaders talk about the emergence of a global elite—a breakaway group of the top international law firms—they almost always include themselves in the group, regardless of who they are. They talk about the quality of their lawyers and their geographical reach. But it seems to me that the law firms paying the highest junior lawyer salaries would be the most logical group to consider as global elite contenders given they can already afford to pay so much and they will no doubt be attracting the best young lawyers. ... It is apt then that the salary differentials between firms are widening, suggesting some will struggle to keep up. Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer wants to be on a higher level than its U.K. peers so upped its rates to a quasi-mid-Atlantic rate. Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan didn’t like being on the same level as Freshfields so bumped its own salaries to Cravath levels. When the time comes for the likes of Milbank to announce their own rates towards the end of the year, you can be sure they will try to out-do their rivals. And then we will no doubt see the likes of Cravath and Davis Polk & Wardwell announce an even higher level, which everyone rushes to match. #SalaryWars #BigLaw #JamesonLegal https://lnkd.in/eqrj9_2X

https://lnkd.in/euzuJJkE U.S. law firms have significantly expanded their presence in London over the past few decades. Initially seen as a risky move, firms particularly from the U.S. such as Paul Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, have grown into London powerhouses. Their dominance in London has reshaped the legal market, which has challenged traditional UK law firms known as the “magic circle.” This shift has been pushed by an increased demand from U.S. private equity firms in London, which led to a surge in competitive legal talent recruitment. U.S. firms offer substantially higher pay, with their top partners earning up to $20 million annually and new lawyers reaching £180,000. Despite concerns of high billing requirements and long working hours, U.S. firms are landing top law graduates. #law #UK #London #legal #lawfirms #recruitment #lawyers #USfirms https://lnkd.in/e7W4KC6b

FWA Friday Update! Partner Moves in Scotland's Legal Sector! With over 30 years of experience specialising in placing partners in law firms across Scotland, we are currently recruiting for several senior roles at Legal Director and Partner level. Why do senior lawyers move?  Here are just some of the reasons that senior lawyers share with us: • Career progression, having hit a glass ceiling, or seizing a new opportunity for partnership or equity. • Their practice area no longer fits with the firm’s chosen direction. • Client demand. Their clients require a different level or range of service offerings or price delivery. • Remuneration. To join a more profitable firm. • Cultural & Management. It is important to work with partners and a firm that shares its vision or a firm that can offer a better work/life balance. • Partnership issues. Ranging from a dispute to the restructuring of the partnership to the long-term sustainability of the firm. • Change of location We pride ourselves on our personalised and confidential approach, deep industry knowledge, and long-standing relationships with law firms in Scotland. If you would find it helpful to have a confidential overview of the senior market for lawyers in Scotland, we would be delighted to hear from you. Have a great weekend. Frasia x #PartnerRoles #FWALlegalrecruitment#CareerOpportunities #Timingiseverything

Imagine for a moment a law firm courting a new client. The client wants assurances that their matters will be handled by attorneys at the top of their game. Imagine, then, the partner admits that in terms of who handles the bulk of the work, "It's not who's best; it's who's left." Because of the grueling, sometimes abusive environments that associates are subjected to, the best and brightest are leaving the ranks of big law for greener, healthier pastures. And the "best" that do stay certainly can't perform at their peak under such punishing circumstances. How eager will that client be to sign on the dotted line? Not very. Would that be something a firm would ever admit? No. But that is exactly what Barry Crushell, a leading Irish employment lawyer, says about the reality of many law firms' toxic, crushing culture. In this case, he is speaking about Irish law firms, but having worked with and talked to lawyers in the U.S. and abroad, the culture is sadly universal. And while firms aren't likely to admit to clients the crisis they face, clients are smart. They are increasingly aware of the risks, and "many large multinationals asking about turnover rate among staff and requesting additional resources to ensure knowledge does not rest with a small cohort of senior lawyers." If firms cannot justify investing in strategic cultural change that improves the well-being of their attorneys and legal professionals for altruistic reasons, then they should at least be able to see how it impacts their financial bottom line by ignoring it. #economicsofwellbeing #resilientlawyers #lawfirmwellbeing https://lnkd.in/ei89jVnT

Is a clear criminal history an inherent requirement of the job? In the recent case of O’ Connor v LexisNexis (Pty) Ltd (P18/24) [2024] ZALCPE 11, the Labour Court considered, on an urgent basis, whether the refusal to appoint an individual on the basis of them having a criminal record amounted to unfair discrimination under section 6 of the Employment Equity Act 55 of 1998 (EEA). An individual has the right to privacy as entrenched in the Constitution and this includes the right to protect their personal information, but this has to be weighed against an employer’s legitimate interests. It is therefore important for an employer in each case to carefully weigh up all the relevant circumstances, rather that merely discarding such individual’s application for employment. Find out more - book a consultation. Business Hours: Monday-Friday 8h00-17h00 011 793-4367 law@wollnik-ass.co.za www.wollnik-ass.co.za P O Box 2322, Sundowner, Practice Areas of Expertise: Bail Applications, Commercial, Civil and Criminal Litigation, Debt Collection, Family Law as well as Labour Law. Appearances: Labour and Labour Appeal Court, Magistrate's, Regional and High Court Business Hours: Monday-Friday 8h00-17h00 Book a Consultation! 011 793-4367 law@wollnik-ass.co.za www.wollnik-ass.co.za P O Box 2322, Sundowner, Randburg.

Q: What is the most valuable quality an attorney needs to get (and keep) clients, besides work quality? A: Empathy. For those of us that represent primarily individuals in our practice, selecting an attorney can be: ➡️Scary ➡️Overwhelming ➡️Nerve-wracking You have to meet your potential clients where they are at, and typically they are going through an extremely challenging time. In my line of work as an employment lawyer, my potential clients typically don't know the law, and many times I'm the first lawyer they've ever had to hire. Some people are born with natural empathy, and some have to work on it. It's something we can all work on to improve our customer service toward potential clients. Even if someone doesn't eventually hire you, they might share your information with someone else that will, or on the flip side, if it's a negative experience and you come across as cold or uncaring, they can leave a negative review. ❓Have you worked on your empathy to be a better lawyer? If so, how? Did you take a course, or learn from other attorney mentors? ✅My name is Katie Lipp - I'm an employment lawyer in Virginia, owner of Lipp Law which provides employment, labor + business law support to individuals and local businesses throughout the DMV (DC, MD, VA), and owner of Law Practice Queen Business Coaching, where I coach and mentor female lawyers and entrepreneurs on business development and creating a sustainable legal career. ✅If you know a lawyer or entrepreneur that would benefit from my content, please share this post with them. ✅To sign up for my Law Practice Queen newsletter, which gives you exclusive support on navigating life as a female lawyer or entrepreneur, head to my profile and click "Katie Lipp's Links," then "Law Practice Queen Newsletter." ✅To get legal support with employment, labor, or business law advice in the DMV, click "Katie Lipp's Links" in my profile, then "Contact The Lipp Law Firm." #lawpracticequeen #lawyering #lawyersoflinkedin #howtolawyer #virginiaemploymentlawyer #womanownedbusiness

📈 The Rising Cost of Legal Services: What It Means for Associates in the UK ⚖️ As London’s legal landscape shifts, associates in the UK are facing unprecedented opportunities for career growth and financial rewards. With mega cases flooding the courts and US-based firms raising salary stakes, the journey for ambitious legal professionals is more dynamic than ever. In our latest blog, we explore: 1️⃣ How high-stakes cases are accelerating career trajectories 2️⃣ The impact of US firms on salaries and career options 3️⃣ How firms are investing in work-life balance to retain talent Read more: https://lnkd.in/eTGFx_e7 #LegalCareers #CareerGrowth #LawFirmCulture #LegalProfessionals

THE GROWING SCOURGE OF MISREPRESENTING QUALIFICATIONS The Labour Court in a recent case spoke out firmly and extensively criticized the “scourge of falsifying or augmenting one’s qualifications”. In this matter the Labour Court found that the employee was fairly, procedurally and substantively, dismissed for misrepresenting his qualifications, calling such misrepresentation “a pervasive and menacing evil that greedily devours and indelibly taints our employment landscape. It trivialises our institutions of learning, devalues the sanctity of honest educational pursuits and cheapens legitimate and hard-earned achievements. It can never be excused, rationalised or condoned…” Find out more - book a consultation. Business Hours: Monday-Friday 8h00-17h00 011 793-4367 law@wollnik-ass.co.za www.wollnik-ass.co.za P O Box 2322, Sundowner, Practice Areas of Expertise: Bail Applications, Commercial, Civil and Criminal Litigation, Debt Collection, Family Law as well as Labour Law. Appearances: Labour and Labour Appeal Court, Magistrate's, Regional and High Court Business Hours: Monday-Friday 8h00-17h00 Book a Consultation! 011 793-4367 law@wollnik-ass.co.za www.wollnik-ass.co.za P O Box 2322, Sundowner, Randburg.