As job vacancies in the HR sector plummet, human resources specialists will be pleased to know the law has changed to allow them to become salaried or full equity partners in legal firms.
Until the end of March, only fully qualified solicitors could be partners, but now 25% of a firm can be made up of partners who are non-lawyers.
Giles Murphy, head of assurance and business services at Smith & Williamson, explained this will open doors to HR staff. He said: "The new rules open up excellent opportunities for HR professionals with a specialist background in the legal sector and it looks to be a win-win situation. Individuals will benefit from enhanced recognition and possibly improved remuneration opportunities, while the new rules should help law firms attract top quality people."
The change in the law to create ‘legal disciplinary practices' is designed to pave the way for mergers between accountants, solicitors and surveyors by 2011-2012.
But Murphy advised those who are considering taking a promotion to partner status to make sure the organisation is a limited liability partnership (LLP) to protect their personal assets.
Legal firms' rule changes let HR professionals become partners in solicitors'
HR professionals are now able to become partners in solicitors' practices.
