WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE LAW PRACTICE MODEL (LPM)


WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE LAW PRACTICE MODEL (LPM)
Why is the Department of Justice introducing a new “Law Practice Model” (LPM)? What Does the LPM Mean for New Lawyers at the Department of Justice? How Will the LPM Affect a Junior Lawyer’s Prospects for Promotion? What Impact will the LPM have on the Department of Justice? How Will the LPM Affect the Work Done by Junior Lawyers?	Don’t be fooled by euphemisms like “efficiencies” or “savings”. The LPM is about cuts.
	In October 2009, the Department of Justice introduced the “Law Practice Model” (LPM). We think it should be called the “Law Practice Mess". As the AJC has asked the hard questions, it has become increasingly apparent that there is no considered plan behind the LPM. Despite management assertions to the contrary, the LPM is about one thing – cuts. Over half of Justice Department employees are not lawyers. But the LPM targets only one type of employee. The LPM will cut $12.5 million from the Department’s budget entirely on the backs of lawyers. In other words, the entire $12.5 million cut is coming out of the salary envelope for lawyers. We believe that the LPM will also radically re-configure the profile at the Department of Justice, making it an organization that is bottom heavy with junior lawyers who will have increasingly complex and difficult legal work downloaded on them… while having fewer career advancement opportunities. Under the LPM, the ranks of junior lawyers in the LA-1 classification will balloon by over 60%, while the number of experienced working level lawyers at the LA-2A level will shrink by over 9%. Lawyers in the LA Senior Complement (LA-2B and above) will contract even more - by over 15%.

What Does the LPM Mean for New Lawyers at the Department of Justice?
*How will the work done by LA-1 Lawyers be affected?*	How will your prospects for promotion be affected?	What Impact will the LPM have on the Department?
The downloading of legal work will throw Junior lawyers into a “sink or swim” environment. Traditionally, an LA-1 position was considered an entry-level position for a junior lawyer. This recognized that junior lawyers were in the development stage of their careers. In other words, LA-1s were acquiring the skills and experience that enabled them to function competently and independently as LA-2A lawyers. LA-1s benefited from the mentoring of senior LAs and a complexity of legal work commensurate with their skills and experience. The LPM will change this in a negative way. We believe that there is a very real risk that complex and difficult legal work, which was previously done by LA-2A lawyers, will most likely be downloaded on LA-1s. Fewer LA-2As and other senior lawyers will mean that LA-1s have less chance to be mentored. The downloading of legal work would throw LA-1s into a “sink or swim” environment.	In very practical terms, under the LPM, delay in promotion will have a significant, negative impact on the lawyer’s lifetime earnings. Unlike lawyers in some large provincial governments, federal government lawyers must compete with each other for every promotion throughout their careers. Because of the LPM, lawyers in the LA-1 classification will face a long, uphill battle to advance to the LA-2A level where they can earn a better rate of pay. Numbers don’t lie. Under the LPM, the number of LA-1 lawyers will balloon by 63% (approx. 250 lawyers), while the number of LA-2A lawyers will shrink by over 9% (approx. 125). The net result is that a much larger number of LA-1 lawyers will be competing to advance to into a pool of LA-2A positions that will be getting smaller. What’s more, LA-2A lawyers will not be advancing at their historical rate because LA classifications above them will be shrinking as well. [The LA Senior Complement will be shrinking by 15% (approx. 130)]. Historically, lawyers at the LA-1 level could expect promotion to the LA-2A level after four years. Reflecting this reality, lawyers typically reach the top of the LA-1 salary range after four years. There is little doubt that the LPM will delay a typical LA1 lawyer’s advancement to the LA-2A level by 2-3 years. Thus, an LA-1 lawyer can expect to stay at that level for 6-7 years before being promoted. But after four years an LA-1 lawyer will be stuck at the top of the pay range (approx. $85,000/yr. at current rates). In very practical terms, under the LMP, delay in promotion will have a significant, negative impact on the lawyer’s lifetime earnings.	What Impact Will the LPM Have on the Department of Justice? We call the LPM a short-sighted mistake. It will have a long-term adverse effect on the ability of the Department of Justice to deliver quality legal services to the government and the people of Canada. Specifically: The federal government will not be able to offer a rate of pay that is competitive with that of other public sector lawyers. The Department of Justice will not be able to recruit experienced lawyers because the LPM has frozen hiring at the LA-2A level and above. Department of Justice managers will not be able to fill positions with lawyers who have the right skills and experience because the LPM has also frozen the staffing of positions at the LA-2A level and above. The Department will have a difficult time retaining lawyers at all levels because of the poor prospects for advancement and promotion. The Department of Justice will become an organization that is bottom heavy with junior, LA-1 lawyers. On the basis of all of the above factors, the quality of lawyers in the federal public sector will erode.
What Does the LPM Mean for New Lawyers at the Department of Justice? Severely reduced opportunity for advancement to the LA-2A level; Downloading of increasingly difficult and complex legal work.