Reviewing resourcing

This issue is all about balance. We know that’s a good thing − whether in our diet, our minds or up in the boardroom. But achieving it’s rather easier said than done. The diversity road for law firms seems to be long and hard − and the percentage of lawyers suffering stress is on the up. According to a Law Society survey this summer, almost a fifth say they have hit ‘extreme’ levels of the stuff.

In the end, better balancing your firm comes down to information. In this issue, for example, Chris Oglethorpe, HR director at Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co, discusses how data can pinpoint patterns and drive all manner of behaviour change. Then, our feature on embracing a more diverse workforce and ensuring it feels welcome includes
input from Ashurst, Mayer Brown, King & Wood Mallesons, Berwin Leighton Paisner, Weightmans, Bird & Bird and LOD (Lawyers on Demand).

HAPPIER DAYS

Who doesn’t like a little engagement? Chris Oglethorpe, HR director at Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co, however, wants a lot – and says measuring it effectively is also the key to getting much more.

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE?

Legal business knows the value of a diverse workforce by all manner of demographic – but getting better isn’t just a numbers game. Richard Brent hears how firms are reaching out, and reflecting internally, to create cultures of more productive inclusion.

COLLECTION POINTERS

Joanna Goodman, writing for Thomson Reuters, charts firms’ changing needs when turning knowledge to action. Actionable knowledge management (KM) is a critical success factor for every law firm and in-house legal department.