Worthwhile quick read from Australian Lawyers Weekly……..The Australian legal marketplace will never be the same again once the age of coronavirus has passed. This is, unquestionably, a good outcome.
COVID-19 brought about not just a global pandemic and economic turmoil, but substantial change to the ways the modern legal marketplace operates. These changes are myriad, still unfolding and even yet to emerge. Whilst practitioners have different views about the extent and consequence of such an upending of the established order, one perspective rings true across the board: #auslaw is shaping up to look vastly different to pre-pandemic conditions.
Reflecting on a new-look legal marketplace
Professionals broadly agree that there will not be a full reversion to pre-pandemic conditions. In fact, InfoTrack CEO John Ahern comments, “it will be a shame if it does”.
“This difficult period has brought about some much-needed change in the legal industry,” says Her Lawyer founder and principal Courtney Bowie.
“We were stuck, in a lot of areas, doing things the way they have always been done, until this pandemic pushed legislators, regulators and law societies to catch up.”
Barrister Jane Needham SC agrees, saying that lockdown underscored the importance of adaptability: “Those who are unable to adapt to changing circumstances have found practising particularly difficult. For those who have the ability (and the equipment) to adapt quickly to changes in technology, that skill will find them in good stead going forward as it is unlikely that the benefits of remote hearings and conferences will be discarded completely,” she opines.
Law firms big and small will have to prioritise wellness concerns more than ever before, HBA Legal managing director Brett Ablong proclaims.
“The stats show that by profession the law has one of the highest rates of people with mental health challenges. This tells me that as a profession, we must do more, employers have to do more, and COVID-19 will force change in this regard because the employers who don’t change will become less and less attractive and find retention increasingly difficult. For a long time, it’s been about much more than just salary when candidates are looking for work. Candidates look at an employer holistically and this is going to become even more prevalent now,” he believes.
