According to The Lawyer newspaper, the nine-to-12-month ‘improvement’ period -- which is given to partners that have already been given a formal performance warning -- has been cut by the partnership council to quicken the removal process and to allay the perceived negative impacts of the current procedure.
Booted out
In addition, the magic circle firm is also extending the termination period it gives to partners from 14 days to at least three months. The theory is that partners who are issued with the three-month notice and then serve the full six-month notice period will in practice still be booted out quicker than under current arrangements.
Limbo
One unidentified partner told The Lawyer that the change is mainly being made to eliminate the ‘limbo’ that partners may feel when they are under a formal performance warning. The partner said: ‘What it changes is it gives another mechanism, which is better and less destructive mechanism for getting a partner to go. Having people in an organisation who are not at all positive about the organisation is destructive.’
Booted out
In addition, the magic circle firm is also extending the termination period it gives to partners from 14 days to at least three months. The theory is that partners who are issued with the three-month notice and then serve the full six-month notice period will in practice still be booted out quicker than under current arrangements.
Limbo
One unidentified partner told The Lawyer that the change is mainly being made to eliminate the ‘limbo’ that partners may feel when they are under a formal performance warning. The partner said: ‘What it changes is it gives another mechanism, which is better and less destructive mechanism for getting a partner to go. Having people in an organisation who are not at all positive about the organisation is destructive.’
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