Harper Macleod uses new roles to help define the route to partnership

In response, Harper Macleod has added senior solicitor and senior associate roles to its ranks, in a move that chief executive Martin Darroch said would give legal staff better-defined career paths while also enabling the firm to allocate work in a way that would resonate better with clients.

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As a result, in addition to two lawyers – corporate specialist Jo Nisbet and real estate expert Limor Wolfe – being promoted to partner, the firm has also made up 21 lawyers to senior associate, seven to associate and 12 to senior solicitor in its latest promotions round.

“This is the result of an eight-month consultation process we went through to look at the flexibility and work-life balance that people are seeking,” said Mr Darroch.

“We wanted to see what the mutual expectations were of each other as employees and employers.”

From Harper Macleod’s point of view, that means the firm can ensure it is staffing matters with the correct level of personnel – something that clients are increasingly looking for evidence of.

“We’ve been growing for the last 18 years but over the past decade our number of fee-earners has doubled,” Mr Darroch said.

“In that context it’s also important to make sure that the structure is fit for purpose today.

“In the procurement environment clients are seeking to make further differentiations from a pricing perspective but also in terms of delegation of duty.”

From employees’ point of view, Mr Darroch believes the new structure means the firm can better recognise the contribution its people make and the fact that they are progressing even if they have not taken on a new title.

“The absolute core for me is for people to be able to demonstrate career progression,” he said.

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“You can have an associate who has the talent to get to partner level but it may take them a long time. We need to demonstrate that they are progressing and they are being recognised by the business.

“We had quite a wide range of experience levels in the associate band but actually in terms of giving the right recognition to someone’s status in the organisation, just having the associate band isn’t enough.”

Not all staff members were supportive of the change during the consultation process because they felt additional layers would prolong the time it took them to reach partnership.

However, Mr Darroch said the fact that both Ms Nisbet and Ms Wolfe were promoted to partner without holding the role of senior associate first shows this is not the case, with progression through the ranks not necessarily having to occur in a sequential fashion.

“There were a few comments about having more hurdles to get to partnership,” he said. “At this time of year we always look at promotions and there are some individuals who have jumped two steps.

“Previously we had solicitor, associate and partner and there have been some individuals who have jumped to associate [without being a senior solicitor first].

“That was something we had identified at the start and it helped those who were of a view that there were more hurdles to see that they didn’t need to go through that.”

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It is a view that is shared by firm chairman Lorne Crerar, who noted that the new positions should also help the firm retain its own home-grown talent.

“Harper Macleod has always been a place of opportunity and many of our current Partners have developed through our own ranks over the years – it is something we place enormous importance on and I’m delighted to note that 12 of the current promotions completed their traineeships with the firm,” Mr Crerar said.

“People are our business, and as the firm continues to develop we have ensured that the career path for our lawyers is best placed to respond to the needs of our clients and the firm.