for the client, there is also the chance to examine a lawyer's performance and suit- ability for potential positions within the company's in-house legal department. From the lawyer's perspective, when
returning to the firm, he or she becomes the client's trusted point of contact. Such a position empowers that associate to become a significant player in his or her
firm's corporate culture. Secondment is also something law
societies recommend for articling stu- dents in cases where a student cannot receive experience in certain fields within a firm. But both client and firm will only get out what they put into a secondment. And that's where expectation manage- ment comes in.
"What I found is that when you do set
all that out and manage peoples' expecta- tions beforehand, the transition can be seamless," says Johnson. "We are in the relationship business. You want to work with people you have a level of comfort with. There is always a period of develop- ing that trust, and once you get there, you want to enhance and maintain it." IH
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Boughton Law Corporation www.boughton.ca
Vancouver, BC • Whitehorse, YT 604.687.6789 • 867.456.7811
McLennan Ross LLP www.mross.com
Edmonton • Calgary, AB 780.482.9200 • 403.543.9120
Yellowknife, NT • 867.766.7677 Balfour Moss LLP
www.balfourmoss.com Regina • Saskatoon, SK 306.347.8300 • 306.665.7844
PITBLADOLLP www.pitblado.com Winnipeg, MB 204.956.0560
Harrison Pensa LLP
www.harrisonpensa.com London, ON 519.679.9660
Minden Gross LLP
www.mindengross.com Toronto, ON 416.362.3711
BrazeauSeller.LLP
www.brazeauseller.com Ottawa, ON 613.237.4000
BCF LLP www.bcf.ca
Montréal • Québec City, QC 514.397.8500 • 418.266.4500
Ottenheimer | Baker
www.ottenheimerbaker.com St John's, NL 709.722.7584
Wickwire Holm INHOUSE AUGUST 2010 •
www.wickwireholm.com Halifax, NS 902.429.4111
41 Matheson & Murray
www.mathesonandmurray.com Charlottetown, PE 902.894.7051
Barry Spalding Lawyers/Avocats
www.barryspalding.com Moncton • Saint John, NB 506.388.4226 • 506.633.4226
