Top UK law firm plans to use alumni as contract consultants, hopes to expand program globally
A top London-based international law firm is launching a new program that uses alumni with high-level skills to supplement the firm’s own attorneys during periods of high demand.
The Allen & Overy alumni operate as self-employed contract workers in an arrangement that offers them more flexibility and autonomy in their working conditions than they would have as partners or associates, Legal Week reports. About 20 to 30 individuals are initially expected to participate in the Peerpoint program, which the firm hopes to expand internationally.
“The traditional law firm model is under pressure and lacks flexibility,” managing partner Wim Dejonghe told the legal publication. “In a low-growth environment, peaks in client demand are far more variable, so we need greater flexibility in our model.
“We also want to provide an option for those high-caliber lawyers who enjoy the challenge of working with top-tier clients without the added demands of working in a large law firm. Peerpoint enables us to do both.”
