Nearly three quarters of US lawyers say that law school did not prepare them for the demands of working in a law firm, according to a survey of 132 attorneys by in-house legal recruiter Paragon.
73% of those surveyed wish their legal education had focused more on business development and client management, work-life balance strategies, mental health and resilience, and managing their own practice and finances.
The survey also asked attorneys what they considered to be their top work priority: income, flexibility or prestige. Autonomy and salary were equally important to attorneys (49% each) while prestige was only cited as the main career driver by 3% of respondents.
“Today’s junior lawyers are choosing flexibility over traditional markers of success, such as fancy titles. Half say autonomy is just as important as salary, and one in four has already turned down promotions to protect it” says Trista Engel, CEO, Paragon Legal.
But, whilst work-life balance is increasingly important to attorneys, 54% of those surveyed said that they felt the need to hide their desire for flexibility in the workplace. Among Gen Z lawyers specifically, the percentage was even higher at 81%.
The results point to a golden opportunity for in-house legal departments – which are traditionally associated with more flexible legal careers – to attract and retain ambitious lawyers.
“Today’s legal careers are far more flexible than many students realize, if you know where to look. The traditional climb through law firms still exists, but it’s no longer the only or even the primary route to a meaningful legal career. Attorneys are prioritizing autonomy, balance, and purpose, and the profession is evolving to meet those expectations. That’s opening doors for new talent to build careers that actually match their lives”, says Engel.
To read the full survey results, click here.