Law firms are not stretching talented individuals far enough and partners are failing to pass on their knowledge to younger lawyers, research has shown.

A benchmarking survey of 350 partners, associates and assistant solicitors at medium-sized and large law firms, conducted by organisational development consultancy Getfeedback in association with the Gazette, found that law firms need to do more to nurture talent within their organisations.

Six out of ten of the lawyers interviewed had been given the opportunity to work with senior-level partners, but only one in four of these considered that this process had been good for their development.

More than three-quarters said partners 'added little as effective coaches'.

Getfeedback managing director Alison Gill said: 'Firms need to pay more attention to what they are doing internally.

There is a big demand for proper mentoring schemes.

Newly qualifieds were the least optimistic among the law firm populations, with little belief that career progression is linked to performance.

This attitude among new joiners does not show in the financial and consultancy industries.'

Female lawyers said they were less sufficiently rewarded than their male counterparts.

Two-thirds of respondents felt under-challenged, saying they did not find performance reviews demanding and that the reviews did not result in improved performance.

'All the firms in the survey would benefit from setting more balanced, stretching and complex objectives which perhaps go beyond billable hours,' said Ms Gill.

'Typically, the more talented prefer to be stretched and want to have transparency in how their performance is measured.'

Lawyers showed a positive outlook, with 66% saying they were confident in their firms' success and a similar number said their firm had 'clear and decisive leadership'.

See [2003] Gazette, 6 November, page 15

By Rachel Rothwell