IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON YOUNG LAWYERS
The SYLA survey on the impact of COVID on young lawyers has now concluded. The report is now available to view here. The responses raised a number of issues of concern.
Half of young lawyers who attended a physical court, prison or secure accommodation during lockdown were not consulted about this. SYLA calls on employers to consult their staff about any work outside of their home while restrictions remain in place and ensure they are provided with adequate support, and where appropriate, PPE.
Over 40% of trainees and almost 50% of NQs were placed on furlough by their employers. This is significantly higher than the Scottish average of 30% published in August 2020. These percentages are far higher than those placed on furlough in the 2-5% year and 5-10% PQE brackets. Employers should be mindful that furlough is most likely to impact on the development of trainees and NQs during a time when they are going through an intense period of learning and that where possible their professional development should be supported and reviewed regularly.
Over two-thirds of students felt they had inadequate support from their organisation. While this is likely to reflect the views of students across subject areas, SYLA invites recruiters to consider the impact that a sudden change in teaching has had on students and the varied approaches taken by different institutions. Students have also had summer placement offers withdrawn and the opportunities for involvement in extra-curricular activities have faced a sharp drop.
SYLA also asked members for feedback on what the association and other parts of the profession can do to support young lawyers during this time. They are sharing the detailed results of the survey with the Law Society of Scotland and are planning events specifically aimed at mitigating the impact of this crisis on the professional development and personal wellbeing of their members. Follow us on our social media channels to keep up to date with our events.
Half of young lawyers who attended a physical court, prison or secure accommodation during lockdown were not consulted about this. SYLA calls on employers to consult their staff about any work outside of their home while restrictions remain in place and ensure they are provided with adequate support, and where appropriate, PPE.
Over 40% of trainees and almost 50% of NQs were placed on furlough by their employers. This is significantly higher than the Scottish average of 30% published in August 2020. These percentages are far higher than those placed on furlough in the 2-5% year and 5-10% PQE brackets. Employers should be mindful that furlough is most likely to impact on the development of trainees and NQs during a time when they are going through an intense period of learning and that where possible their professional development should be supported and reviewed regularly.
Over two-thirds of students felt they had inadequate support from their organisation. While this is likely to reflect the views of students across subject areas, SYLA invites recruiters to consider the impact that a sudden change in teaching has had on students and the varied approaches taken by different institutions. Students have also had summer placement offers withdrawn and the opportunities for involvement in extra-curricular activities have faced a sharp drop.
SYLA also asked members for feedback on what the association and other parts of the profession can do to support young lawyers during this time. They are sharing the detailed results of the survey with the Law Society of Scotland and are planning events specifically aimed at mitigating the impact of this crisis on the professional development and personal wellbeing of their members. Follow us on our social media channels to keep up to date with our events.
Our committee member, Matthew McGovern, discussed the results of the survey in this article in the Journal of the Law Society of Scotland.
