Allen & Overy (A&O) is a leading international law firm comprising over 5,500 people in 44 offices across 31 countries. Like all law firms, they are confronted with the realities of how the practice of law is changing. For example, lawyers no longer have a monopoly on the field. From legal document technicians to virtual law offices and self-help legal websites, today’s lawyers face competition from a variety of non-lawyer sources. Technology has also transformed the practice of law and lawyers must become proficient in a wide range of technology platforms. Outsourcing of legal work to foreign countries is another challenging economic reality.
Recruiters at A&O responded pragmatically with their ‘Lawyer of the Future’ project which defined the skills and qualities the firm were looking for in their future lawyers. They then partnered with Amberjack to define recruitment practices that would enable A&O to attract and recruit these ‘future lawyers’ globally.