The new post — which carries with it a £5,000 pay increase and an additional two days’ holiday — came into effect on 1 September, 2007, with 134 lawyers across the firm’s national network promoted to the position.
The move is the brainchild of Addleshaws’ human resources director, Judith Hardy, who said the large number of promotions reflected the fact that many senior associates were already performing the role, while a number of junior associates were ready to ‘step up’ to the next level. The firm does not operate a senior
associate rank.
Under the new structure, associates of between three and four years’ PQE will attend a development centre and draw up a plan for their own career development.
At an annual appraisal, partners will then decide whether the individual lawyer has reached agreed milestones, taking into account a range of factors including business development.
Promotion will be judged on individual performance rather than level of PQE, with a round of promotions taking place on 1 September every year.
Hardy told Legal Week: “This role has been developed around competency, not PQE. It is a stage people have reached based on performance and the skills they need as they reach partnership.”
She added: “It is a nod that you are doing well and are doing exactly what the firm hopes you will be doing rather than that you will be a partner.”
In 2004 Addleshaws drafted in the role of legal director, which provides associates at the top 20 practice with an alternative to partnership.
A number of major