Gen-Z attorneys’ desire to work for a BigLaw firm after law school has decreased over the time of the pandemic, according to responses from the survey, Gen-Z: Now Influencing Today’s Law Firm Culture.
The survey was conducted between January and March of this year and results were released this month by Major, Lindsey & Africa, a legal search firm.
The survey focused on “law students and young lawyers from around the world, with a particular focus on those attending the top 100 law schools as ranked by U.S. News & World Report,” according to a press release.
While 70% of respondents said they intend to pursue the law firm track, 39% said they would join a BigLaw firm, down from 59% in the MLA’s 2020 survey. And 53% of Gen-Z respondents said they wanted to work in-house, for the government, or for a non-profit in the long run, compared to 23% who want to be a partner at a law firm.
Respondents reported in the survey that opportunities for advancement and the highest market salary as the primary factors that would keep them at a BigLaw firm. The responses all show that long work days and working nights or on weekends were strong motivations for leaving a BigLaw job.
“The results of this survey indicate Gen-Z continues to place an extremely high value on work-life balance and flexible work arrangements, a trend that has only been heightened amid the pandemic,” said Jacqueline Bokser LeFebvre, managing director and co-author of the survey. “While they of course recognize that law firm life will entail some late night or weekend work, many do not expect or want these long hours to be a frequent occurrence. As a result, they’re giving more serious consideration to career paths that might pay less, but offer other benefits like flexible and remote work, part-time work policies, and mental health services and support.”
