Modern Law Magazine Issue 67

EDITORIAL
BOARD
Paul Sams,
Partner, Dutton Gregory
Alex Holt
Director of Business
Development,
The Cashroom
HELLO
LIVERPOOL!
Having celebrated our Diamond Anniversary last year,
we are proud to be one of the fastest-growing law firms
in the South, and breaking new ground in the North.
Dutton Gregory Solicitors has
been providing award-winning
client services and career
opportunities in the legal
profession for over 75 years.
To find out more, visit
www.duttongregory.co.uk
WINCHESTER
CHANDLER’S FORD
BOURNEMOUTH
NEW
POOLE
LONDON
LIVERPOOL
Leading
By Example
“In recent months, I have started to wonder if the
main objection to environmentally friendly practices
isn’t, in fact, the solution - price. We all know that
clients want a five-star hotel service, but are only
prepared to pay the price of cardboard box under
a railway arch, but could this be used to help the
promotion and adoption of the green agenda? Can
we incentivise clients to adopt environmentally
friendly ways of working? Why not offer reduced fees
or discounts to clients who accept correspondence
electronically, (reducing paper) are happy to have
video meetings (reducing use of vehicles) or need
legal support on issues of employment, manufacturing
and transport that support a greener future?
Perhaps more importantly, law firms should lead by example
and start implementing sustainable practices within their own
operations. This can include reducing paper usage, implementing
recycling programs, and adopting energy-efficient technologies.
Only companies that can demonstrate their own commitment
to sustainability are in a position to encourage others. We could
include sustainability clauses in client contracts and agreements,
making it a requirement for those we represent to adhere to
certain environmental standards.
Once that is achieved, the next key element is education. Law
firms can organise workshops, webinars, or record videos to
showcase the benefits of adopting environmentally friendly
practices. They can also provide resources such as guides,
checklists, and case studies to help clients understand the
steps that can be taken to become more sustainable. We can
partner with environmental organizations to provide clients with
access to expertise and resources, helping clients understand
the environmental impact of their practices and identify
opportunities for improvement. I know I certainly benefited
from hearing the range of speakers at the Momentum and 360
Hub Liverpool Sustainability Conference I attend recently in
Liverpool City Centre.
By adopting these strategies, law firms can effectively
encourage their clients to adopt more environmentally friendly
practices. Through incentives, education and collaboration, law
firms can play a vital role in promoting sustainability and driving
positive change in the legal industry. I think it is increasingly
something that clients are paying attention to, so should be
seen as an investment in the future or else be left behind.”
How can the legal industry
contribute to the development
of innovative legal solutions
that address environmental and
ethical concerns while ensuring
business continuity?
There’s a constant balancing act for law firms as they
seek to address environmental and ethical concerns.
There is the challenge of providing the best possible service to
their clients. Clients’ demands have never been more exacting,
with speed of communication and cost efficiency paramount.
They must operate within strict regulatory guidelines and
regimes, both sector specific and wider regulations such as
GDPR and AML, which are part of an ever changing geopolitical
landscape - constantly tightening and evolving.
They are overwhelmed by technological advances- new practice
management systems, data storage, paperless functionality and
the ever increasing threats from cyber criminals. And don’t even
get me started on the lawyers’ concerns about the likely impact
of Artificial Intelligence!
They face huge challenges around staffing and recruitment,
exacerbated by the requirement for hybrid working from
particular generations, with the inherent challenges of creating
and maintaining a firm’s culture in those circumstances.
Taking all these elements into account, and more, how on earth
are they to address environmental and ethical concerns as well?
Well…as with many things they need to begin by considering
the steps they will have already, almost unknowingly, made.
Using any practice management system will have brought about
communication improvement and better processes generally
from which their staff and their clients will have benefitted. The
same tech enabled processes will almost certainly have enabled
digital document storage and archiving, and paperless (or paper
light) process adoption. Aside from being a cost saving move,
the environmental benefits across the legal sector are huge.
Many firms have now, as standard, inhouse CSR teams,
focusing on societal improvements they can be part of. When
recruiting Gen Y and Gen Z, a firm’s CSR approach will be a huge
attraction- there is a desire among those generations to get
involved with environmental and ethical issues, and some will be
actively attracted to the firms that have the best opportunities for
charity and environmental initiatives. These staff will in fact help
drive the forward thinking that might otherwise be challenging.
Law firms are not alone in facing these challenges, but from the
work I’ve done judging many awards over recent years, I can say
with certainty that these issues are deemed incredibly important
by a growing number of firms. Their willingness to embrace
this is in fact reaping benefits as they attract and retain better
staff and as a result look to the future with a renewed and more
steady confidence.
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