Law firms have evolved exponentially over the last few decades, and today it requires far more than legal skills for firms to operate efficiently, fulfil client demands, give back to their communities and, ultimately, succeed. As a result, specialist roles beyond fee-earning have been created and more continue to emerge as technology advances and competition intensifies. They are a crucial part of future-proofing law firms and there is growing recognition of the respect and value they deserve with increasing numbers gaining positions in senior management. These roles range from working with legal tech to bringing in new business, from managing the firm's risk and compliance function to collaborating with clients to develop new products. For a lawyer looking to take the next steps in their career, or a law firm wanting to implement the career paths required for future success, it can be difficult to know where to begin.The Rise of Specialist Career Paths in Law Firms is the essential guide to the plethora of career opportunities available in law firms. It covers more established roles such as the professional support lawyer and pro bono professional, and new, emerging career paths, including in innovation and legal operations, as well as roles that will become available in the future. Written by experts with lived experience performing these roles, chapters provide information and insights into the different opportunities available, the skills needed to thrive in these positions, the responsibilities they entail and how to build careers in these spaces.With increasing client demands and the 'talent war' raging, this title will demonstrate how implementing these specialist career paths will enable law firms to continue to provide stellar client service and develop and retain top legal talent, who are increasingly looking for more tailored and flexible career options. It will also provide individual lawyers with the resource to identify and pursue the career that suits them best, allowing them to thrive to the benefit of both the individuals and their firms.

Executive summary viiAbout the authors xiiiChapter 1: The role of the professional support lawyer 1By Catherine Hart, partner and head of professional support, Digby Brown LLPIntroduction 1The "traditional" professional support role and how this emerged 1How the role has developed 2The skills required to be an effective PSL 4How professional support differs from the more traditional legal role of fee earning 6Conclusion 7Chapter 2: Career paths for professional support lawyers 9By Lucy Hall, client value lawyer, Shearman & Sterling LLPDiverse routes a professional support lawyer (PSL) can take over his or her career 9PSL career structures in law firms 9Flat structure of PSLs in law firms 10Senior roles for PSLs within law firms 10Roles for PSLs outside law firms 12Conclusion 14Chapter 3: The evolution of knowledge management - meeting the future 15By Clare Harman Clark, senior professional support lawyer, Taylor Wessing LLPIntroduction 15History of KM 15Functions of legal KM 16Bolstering organizational capacity 16Bridging the technology gap 18Encouraging and empowering people 19Knowing the future 20Chapter 4: Pro bono management 21By Amy Grunske, head of international pro bono, sustainability and community responsibility, OrrickWhat is pro bono? 21How many dedicated pro bono roles are available? 21What responsibilities are included in the role? 23What are the usual job titles for dedicated pro bono roles? 25What skills do I need to be a pro bono professional? 26What is a typical day like in a pro bono role? 29What support is available for pro bono professionals? 31How do I become a pro bono professional? 34Chapter 5: Risk and compliance 39By Rebecca Atkinson, director of risk and compliance, Howard KennedyAreas of practice 39How are risk and compliance teams structured in law firms? 40What roles are there? 42Senior level roles 47What skills and attributes are needed for roles in risk and compliance? 50What knowledge and qualifications are needed and what training can be undertaken? 51Career progression routes 52What does the future look like? 53Chapter 6: How to create a successful career in legal business development 55By Anne Macdonald, partner and head of business development, Harper Macleod LLPHow do you embed a culture of business development throughout your firm? 55Making the switch 56The benefits of bringing legal experience to business development 58What about career paths? 59You have to see it to be it 60Lessons learned? 60Conclusion 61Chapter 7: The shifting sands in talent management 63By Rachel Brushfield, founder, EnergiseLegalIntroduction 63Impact of COVID-19 63Careers and role options 64How to choose your HR talent specialism 66Qualifications and routes into talent management 66Emerging in-demand skills to perform talent roles 67Marketing, branding, and networking in the talent management space 68My path into talent management 69Summary and conclusions 70Chapter 8: Communications: bringing brand to life 71By Hayley Geffin, head of communications, Mishcon de ReyaIntroduction 71Your brand 71Growing a team 74The sky's the limit 75Chapter 9: Oh the places you'll go: careers in legal innovation 77By Amy Monaghan, director of client innovation, Perkins CoieIntroduction 77My path to my role 77Leading innovation in a law firm 79New and emerging roles in legal innovation 82Conclusion 83Chapter 10: Legal operations - transforming the way legal services are delivered 85By Tammy Heydenrych, managing consultant, and Tom Evans, legal operations consultant, Norton Rose FulbrightSolving the challenge of legal's value gap 85So, what is legal operations? 85The growth of legal operations 86Legal operations taxonomy 89Building your legal operations career 93Mindset over skillset 95Chapter 11: The role of legal engineers 97By Nina Gramcko, lawyer and manager, PwC Legal GermanyWhat do legal engineers do? 98What skills should legal engineers have? 100Does every law firm need legal engineers? 103What do law firms need to create the role of a legal engineer? 103Summary 104Chapter 12: The emerging world of ESG 107By Claire Shasha, lawyer and ESG advocateWhat is ESG? 107Emerging trends 108ESG specific roles in the legal sector 109What can you do to pivot? 111Conclusion 114Chapter 13: Hyperspecialization: how the digital revolution will lead to new legal careers 117By Rebecca Holdredge, innovations manager, Husch BlackwellThe Digital Revolution: impact on the legal industry 118The Digital Revolution: digital maturity leads to hyperspecialized roles 120Hyperspecialization example 121Conclusion 123About Globe Law and Business 125