Asian Legal Business quotes Silvia On on the methods our Firm uses to attract the best and brightest law graduates

In today's competitive legal landscape, attracting and retaining top talent is crucial for law firms' success. Leading firms are implementing innovative training initiatives to nurture the next generation of legal professionals.

Law firms say that developing essential skills such as adaptability, commercial awareness, and technological proficiency is key to preparing new lawyers for the evolving demands of the industry.

In an interview with Asian Legal Business (ALB) Magazine, Silvia On, Partner and Head of Hong Kong Office at our Firm, explains:

To attract the brightest law graduates, our firm offers a range of training opportunities that emphasise early talent and diversity. Many of our training programmes have a strong focus on Pro Bono and Responsible Business activities. This hands-on experience is pivotal for fostering a sense of social responsibility and legal acumen among our trainees. We provide a practical learning environment where emphasis is given to early responsibility and supervised client contact, encouraging our trainees to develop key legal and business skills.

"The Charles Russell Speechlys Business School is also central to our approach, offering a tailored programme to all early talent. Our Business School helps individuals to develop essential professional and commercial skills, from personal organisation to understanding the firm’s financial performance. Our commitment to personal growth extends through every career stage, ensuring continuous development and alignment with the firm's ethos from the most junior levels to the most senior.

"Understanding the importance of diverse perspectives, we have implemented both traditional and reverse mentoring schemes, underpinning our diversity and inclusion objectives. At the start of 2024, we launched the ‘Russell Up’ scheme, a brand-new programme designed for our trainee solicitors which will see them deliver four innovation projects during their two-year training contract. The scheme was put in place to introduce our trainees to new ways of working and ensures that, as a firm, we are building an innovation culture from the ground up. All of the options are also legal in their nature, so our trainees have the opportunity to build subject matter expertise as part of the project.

"These initiatives reflect our recognition of the essential skill sets required for the new generation of legal professionals: adaptability, technological savviness, and a robust ethical foundation.

Read the full article in ALB Magazine here.