Recruitment and retention of Scottish lawyers - research in 2008
A research project to explore the recruitment and retention patterns of lawyers is now underway. Almost 1,000 solicitors from throughout the profession will be invited to participate in the research.
The research is being jointly managed by the Scottish Legal Aid Board, the Scottish Government and the Society. The work demonstrates a shared commitment to monitor current and future trends in recruitment and retention of solicitors.
The key drivers for the research are the predicted difficulties in the future supply of practitioners in some legal markets - including legal aid - and the provision of lawyers in rural areas of Scotland. This will help inform about any broader access to justice issue linked to the recruitment and retention of lawyers, if there are problems supplying enough lawyers to meet demand.
The research aims to explore the views of solicitors individually and as the employer at law firms and the other workplaces in the private and public sectors where lawyers are employed. The research will gather views about solicitors' own career choices, and experiences of recruiting, training and retaining lawyers.
Solicitors at different stages of their careers will be interviewed, including trainees, assistants and experienced solicitors. Views will also be sought from academics within the Law Schools at Scottish universities.
Solicitors from all parts of the profession will be invited to participate. The research will include legal firms who do civil and criminal work, as well as those who undertake legal aid work to enable exploration of any particular legal aid issues. Different sizes of workplaces will be included from across a spread of urban and rural locations. The research will also include those working in specific areas of the law where particular concerns regarding supply/ access have been suggested.
The independent research company 
have been commissioned to carry out the research. The results of the research are expected to be published in the summer.
For those solicitors asked to participate – and their employer – it would be greatly appreciated if you could give up some of your valuable time to take part. Your views will provide an invaluable insight into employment trends within the profession, making a significant contribution to future development.
The research has already been reported in the Journal, and the Firm. For further information on the research work, contact Clare Duffy at the Scottish Legal Aid Board on tel 0131 240 1888 or DuffyCl@slab.org.uk, or visit the Board's website by clicking on the following image:
