Attracting and retaining talent

Written by Lynne Macfarlane, Partner an Solicitor Advocate at DWF

When Lynne Macfarlane joined DWF’s insurance team in Scotland in October 2019, she was full of ambition to network with colleagues, build client relationships, and contribute her expertise as a solicitor advocate. However, just five months later the world shifted with the first COVID-19 lockdown.

Those plans were replaced by the immediate challenge of navigating remote work and managing a growing team in an entirely virtual environment. How did Lynne make it work?

Adapting to remote work

Thankfully, DWF’s forward-thinking approach to technology and data minimised the impact of lockdown. Equipped with portable laptops and quickly rolling out Microsoft Teams, the business ensured a seamless collaboration among colleagues and clients. This agility stood out in a competitive market, with many insurer clients turning to us for support as they struggled to adapt.

The UK-wide insurance practice embraced the challenge by organising a fully remote conference for hundreds of UK-based clients. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with attendees praising the firm’s ability to provide a technical platform for continued seamless advice. I delivered the Scottish session from home, reaching a far larger audience than in traditional in-person conferences. I was able to provide high-level legal advice and insights to hundreds of clients throughout the UK.

Leveraging innovation for growth

DWF’s embrace of innovation gave our team a significant edge in the Scottish legal market. Led by my colleague Jill Sinclair – a talented litigator and accredited legal technologist by the Law Society of Scotland – we combined our skill sets to drive growth. My focus on technical legal advice and large loss credentials complemented Jill’s expertise in data analysis, resulting in remarkable success. Over five years, our team more than tripled in size, securing numerous panel appointments and new clients. Jill’s mentorship and collaboration were invaluable as I adapted to a new team, technologies and data-driven practices during an already stressful period. Together, we demonstrated that diverse expertise and teamwork can achieve exceptional results.

Rethinking recruitment and retention

Our growth came against a backdrop of seismic changes to the legal profession in recent years. The shift to hybrid working reshaped expectations, with many younger lawyers and paralegals demanding flexibility before accepting roles. At the same time, the Scottish legal market faced increased competition from English claimant firms migrating north to avoid the constraints of the fixed-costs regime.

To attract and retain top talent in this challenging environment, we transformed our recruitment strategy. Flexible working arrangements, including compressed hours, became standard – not just for those with caregiving responsibilities but also for younger team members seeking better work-life balance. We welcomed back former colleagues returning to law after career breaks and hired individuals with no legal experience but transferable skills, and realising the integral role of paralegals, we introduced a dedicated promotion pathway and established an insurance-specific traineeship, with the first trainees set to join next year.

Building a Supportive Culture

Our management approach has also been key to attracting talent. Recognising that 85% of potential recruits were women, we prioritised understanding the challenges of balancing family, ambition and professional growth. Our own workplace experiences – good and bad – shape our management style. We strive to foster a culture where team members are praised not just for recording chargeable hours but for exhibiting the right behaviours such as demonstrating collaboration, supporting junior colleagues and learning from mistakes. By creating an environment where everyone feels valued, we’ve built a strong, motivated team that thrives on mutual support.

Looking ahead

The past five years have been a whirlwind of challenges and achievements. While I still enjoy offering legal advice to clients, my greatest satisfaction now comes from watching junior colleagues learn, thrive and succeed. They are the future of our team, our business and the legal profession in Scotland, and I am immensely proud of them.

Written by Lynne Macfarlane, Partner and Solicitor Advocate, accredited as a personal injury specialist by the Law Society of Scotland