Following Covid-19, remote working in the legal sector became ubiquitous overnight. How can firms control and manage risk, and ensure that they remain compliant?
Legal Studio's Ian McCann attended April 2021's Law Society Round table event which discussed risk and compliance in the context of remote working. The full article can be viewed here.
Ian featured in the section enitled 'People', parts of which are reproduced below:
People
As a profession, the law has always policed its ‘gateway’, with members assessed most heavily on entry. It is no surprise therefore that careful recruitment is the most important risk safeguard for many.
‘The greatest risk management tool that you’ve got is actually recruitment,’ Ian McCann, chief executive of Leeds litigation firm Legal Studio, says. ‘Start right with culture and character – find the right people to become part of your team.’
Legal Studio operates on a consultant model. McCann advises that when looking at candidates, the way to do it is ‘reckless honesty’. ‘Having those conversations with people and understanding: why do you want to do this? What motivates you? What is it that you want to bring to this? Why do you want to become a consultant? What does your client base look like?’
Keeping the welfare of consultants front of mind is also important in limiting risk, he adds: ‘Make sure you’re looking out for them, because another risk factor is that it’s been a challenging year.’