Growing number of lawyers say avoid the profession

Almost half of lawyers asked would not recommend their profession to friends and family members, according to new research by Wesleyan, the financial services provider for lawyers.

In sharp contrast to findings a year ago, 48 per cent of legal practitioners said they would not recommend the profession, compared with 39 per cent in 2014.

The number of those who wouldn’t choose the same profession again has also increased, from 40 per cent to 47 per cent.

Nearly three quarters (71 per cent) of lawyers say that the increasing cost of education and training, along with changes to pay and conditions will deter future generations from entering the profession.

When asked what they were most concerned about over the next five years, increasing pressures and workloads emerged as the biggest worry for more than half (53 per cent) of lawyers, followed by reductions in legal aid (38 per cent).

Just under a third (30 per cent) say the use of paralegals at the expense of trainee solicitors, is also a major cause for concern.

More than three quarters (77 per cent) feel under increased pressure in their work as a result of recent changes to the profession.

Greg Lowson a member of Wesleyan’s Members Advisory Board and head of Pinsent Masons’ Birmingham office, said: “The legal profession has seen major changes in the past few years, which have clearly hit the morale of those in the industry.

“Cuts in legal aid will impact on their firm’s finances, and ultimately their own if they are partners, while the rise in paralegals is leaving many lawyers worrying about standards of work and how people are training to work in what is a highly skilled profession.

“However, while these concerns are resulting in increased pressure on today’s lawyers, there are many more reasons why the profession is still attractive, which is why most would still choose the same profession again, even if it’s not a sizeable majority.”