Canadian Lawyer

w w w . C A N A D I A N L a w y e r m a g . c o m N O V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6 13 S enior support staff members in B.C. law firms are becoming like Elvis — they've left the building. The result is a shortage of experienced personnel ranging from legal administrative assistance to para- legals with 10 years or more expertise. R. Johnson Legal Recruiting, a com- pany that specializes in finding support staff for the legal profession, is seeing a constant client demand for front-office staff — especially experienced seniors. Kimberly MacMillan, the firm's director of recruiting, estimates there are more than 75 positions available at most times on the firm's website. There are nearly 46 positions for legal administrative assis- tants and 22 paralegals. MacMillan said the shortage of senior staff in the Metro Vancouver area can be blamed on the hot real estate market, which is a double-edged sword. Senior staff members residing in the Metro Van- couver area are realizing their retirement nest egg is in their home, but entry or junior staff struggle to move into housing in the Vancouver area because of escalat- ing rents. Vancouver's tight rental market and rents take a large bite out of the entry-level front-office salary. Supply and demand for support staff within the legal profession has tradition- ally been cyclical, says John Fairlie, chair- man of Capilano University's School of Legal Studies, which offers one of two four-year paralegal degrees in Canada. But, he says, this shortage is slightly dif- ferent. "It could be caused by the move that is going on to reorganize how legal services are provided. Government and law firms are delegating as much as pos- sible to paralegals to save costs and that puts more pressure on support staff," he says. Russell Benson, a partner in Terra Law, is aware of the acute shortage of skilled legal support staff, especially in his company's field, which involves real estate developments. Benson says his firm has taken succession planning seriously for support staff, not just lawyers. "I think the firms are starting to catch on and becoming more competitive," said Yves Moisan, president of the B.C. Paralegals Association, as wages within the profession have remained fairly steady over the past five years. But wages that acknowledge a shortage of skilled staff only go so far, he points out. Moisan says the solution may lie in providing more legal education training to grow the middle sector of paralegals to fill the empty spots created by depart- ing seniors. Another option, he says, is promoting more professional mentoring both with the paralegal association and in-house with firms as it helps junior and mid-level employees develop. — JEAN SORENSEN RIDEOUT & MAYBEE \ AT L A N T I C \ C E N T R A L \ P R A I R I E S \ W E S T REGIONAL WRAP-UP SENIOR SUPPORT STAFF SHORTAGE HITS B.C. LAW FIRMS Bright minds protecting bright ideas since 1893. Committed & accomplished members of the Canadian innovation & legal communities. Toronto • Ottawa • Mississauga ridoutmaybee.com ntitled-4 1 2016-10-31 11:13 AM

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