Attracting, developing and retaining the best ‘non-qualified’ talent
Managing Director of Damar Training and former solicitor, Jonathan Bourne, and his team, are committed to offering high quality and effective apprenticeship programmes. Damar work with a wide range of law firms to support with the recruitment and training of apprentices to become technically competent, rounded legal professionals.
Dan Kayne was a regional general counsel at Network Rail, but is best known as the founder of O Shaped – a client-led movement working to make the legal profession better for those who are in it, those who use it and those who are entering it. It aims to support the development of well-rounded legal professionals and leaders.
Through detailed research and interviews with buyers of legal services, Dan used his skills and experience to develop the O Shaped mindset and attribute frameworks. The 12 O Shaped attributes are grouped under the headings of “building relationships”, “creating value” and “being adaptable” and include competencies such as emotional intelligence, resilience, collaboration and feedback.
In 2021, struck by the similarities in their thinking, Dan and Jonathan teamed up to embed the O Shaped mindset and attribute frameworks into Damar’s paralegal apprenticeship. As O Shaped paralegals finish their apprenticeship, we spoke to Dan and Jonathan to discuss their thinking and its impact so far.
Why start with the paralegal apprenticeship?
After 18 years in the industry, Jonathan has seen hundreds of paralegal apprentices develop a successful career. He said: “In many ways, paralegals are the unsung heroes of legal services. Because there is no single definition or professional recognition, estimates of their number range from 100,000 to as many as 250,000. They include highly specialised and expert practitioners, often working alongside and supporting the 185,000 or so qualified lawyers (solicitors, barristers and chartered legal executives) in England and Wales. Some have law degrees or other vocational or academic legal qualifications; others have learnt ‘on the job’.
“A handful of Damar partner-employers told us that retaining paralegals was tough – many aspire to become solicitors and so would leave if the opportunity arose elsewhere. Building a pathway that would allow employers to recruit from a more diverse pool of talent, including college leavers and people from their local community, seemed like the right approach. However, we wanted apprentices to not only develop technical skills but also the mindset and behaviours to flourish in what is a demanding and rapidly evolving sector.
“The paralegal apprenticeship is often the first ring in a ladder of opportunity that can lead to a career as a paralegal or progression to qualified lawyer status. By developing the right mindset at the start, apprentices are set up for success, wherever direction their careers may take.”
Why did the paralegal community interest you?
Much of O Shaped’s education focus has been at law school and university level. The paralegal sector has always been an interest of Dan, and he is passionate about improving the sector. He said: “Our mission for change needs to touch every part of the legal ecosystem and paralegals play a significant, albeit often overlooked, role in that ecosystem.
“I noticed just how many talented people simply found themselves in paralegal roles, with little career direction, and often, they didn’t receive the recognition they deserved for their contributions. Bringing O Shaped to paralegals is very much aligned with our mission for industry change and helps those paralegals gain crucial skills that will be valuable as they develop their careers, be it in the legal sector or elsewhere.”
How has O Shaped impacted the sector for employers and employees?
It has almost been three years since the first O Shaped paralegals began, and the feedback has been very positive.
Lynette Smith, Senior Learning & Development Business Partner at Brabners, said: “The paralegal apprenticeship provides a culture of learning and development for our ambitious colleagues and promotes progression in our organisation. It allows us to retain talent and supports one of our values – making the difference for our colleagues.
“The O-shaped content supports today’s paralegals and the challenges they face. It encourages ambition and a growth mindset, allowing apprentices to take ownership of their development and build skills for life.”
Emma Harrison, Learning & Development Manager at Lanyon Bowdler, said: “The structure of the O Shaped paralegal apprenticeship supports the development of the whole person, not just legal knowledge. Apprentices are able to develop their emotional intelligence, alongside their technical skill. Interpersonal relationships are just as important as technical legal knowledge in this industry.”
Charlie Moore, Paralegal Apprentice, said: “Being part of the O Shaped movement during my apprenticeship has opened up numerous opportunities and significantly shaped my professional development. I have remained optimistic even in the face of adversity and rejections while seeking further opportunities in the form of the solicitor apprenticeship scheme. This resilience has been crucial in my development, helping me thrive in the dynamic legal landscape.
“Embracing the O Shaped principles is transforming the legal profession for the better, fostering a culture of innovation, adaptability, and holistic growth.”
Samual Jeremiah, Paralegal Apprentice, said: “The O shaped content has helped me see a much more human side to the legal profession. For example, every day I interact with people and I recognise now that the way I do this could greatly affect their mood and performance. If the next generation of legal professionals are taught these O Shaped skills, the legal profession can only progress in a positive way.”
How do you see the future of the sector?
As AI and technologies increase, the future of the workplace is unclear and change is expected. Dan and Jonathan discussed how they see the sector looking in a few years from now.
Dan said: “I have never been more convinced about the need for the O Shaped human and business skills. AI and particularly generative AI will play a significant role in making the delivery of legal services more streamlined and efficient, but the profession is, and always will be, about its people. Fortunately for us, despite the advances in artificial intelligence, our emotional intelligence isn’t something that technology can replicate… yet!”
Jonathan added: “I agree. Whilst the number of ‘pure’ paralegal roles may decline, there will be an increasing need and expectation for paralegals to develop wider or ancillary skills in, for example, legal technology, people and project management, and business. Whilst their core legal knowledge will still be valuable, paralegals of the future are going to need to be courageous and adaptable. They will need to engage in continuous learning and identify opportunities beyond their specialism. It’s no coincidence that these are all O Shaped attributes!”