In today’s dynamic legal landscape, the need for flexible and specialised legal resources has never been more critical. Anna Franzen sat down with Philipp Rosenauer, partner at PwC, to delve into the innovative solutions offered by PwC’s Flexible Legal Resources (FLR).
Philipp, can you start by explaining what PwC’s Flexible Legal Resources (FLR) is and why it was developed?
Absolutely. PwC’s Flexible Legal Resources (FLR) was developed in response to the growing need for a more adaptable workforce in the legal sector. Many companies face challenges in filling specialised legal positions and managing fluctuating workloads. FLR provides a solution by offering both short-term and long-term legal professionals who can seamlessly integrate into a company’s existing team. This flexibility allows businesses to access high-level expertise without the commitment of permanent hires, ultimately reducing overhead costs and increasing efficiency.
What are the primary benefits of utilising FLR for short-term projects?
For short-term projects, FLR offers several key benefits. Firstly, it allows companies to reduce fixed labour costs by allocating resources only when needed. This financial flexibility is crucial for managing budgets effectively. Secondly, businesses can access specialised legal skills precisely when required, ensuring that projects are handled by experts in the field. Additionally, FLR enables companies to adjust their legal team’s size to match changing workloads, maintaining operational efficiency. Lastly, introducing fresh perspectives and innovative ideas from external professionals can significantly enhance a legal department’s performance.
How does FLR support long-term success for businesses?
For long-term success, sometimes the best solution to foster a stable legal environment and achieve more efficient operations is to hire permanent legal resources. For this reason, FLR also provides traditional headhunting services that align with a company’s values, culture and objectives. This alignment is essential for developing a legal team that understands and proactively supports the business’s long-term goals.
How does FLR contribute to solving the talent shortage in the legal sector?
The legal sector is experiencing a significant talent shortage, with many companies struggling to fill specialised positions. FLR addresses this issue by offering a pool of highly qualified independent legal professionals who can step in and provide strategic, high-value work. By leveraging FLR, companies can access the expertise they need without the long-term commitment of hiring full-time employees. This approach not only helps solve the talent shortage but also brings fresh thinking and innovation to the legal departments of our clients.
Can you describe the talent selection process for FLR?
Our talent selection process is rigorous and thorough to ensure we provide the highest quality professionals. It begins with a careful review of all application documents, including CVs, reference letters, diplomas and certificates. We then conduct a series of interviews, starting with a phone screening and followed by live or video interviews. Where necessary, we include additional Q&A sessions. We also perform thorough assessments of visa and work permit situations, criminal register extracts and debt register extracts. This comprehensive due diligence guarantees that our candidates are not only highly qualified but also a perfect fit for our clients’ needs.
How quickly can FLR professionals be deployed to a client’s project?
One of the standout features of FLR is the speed at which we can deploy professionals. Our talent pool consists of over 600 individuals, and we can typically have a suitable candidate ready to start work within two weeks. This rapid deployment is crucial for clients who need immediate support for their legal projects.
What makes PwC’s FLR stand out from other similar services in the market?
PwC’s FLR stands out due to several competitive advantages. Firstly, our expertise in legal and compliance recruiting ensures that we can cover all of our clients’ legal resource needs. Secondly, the strong PwC brand and reputation attract the best candidates, giving us access to top-tier talent. Additionally, we are integrated into PwC Switzerland’s extensive services, providing a holistic approach to our clients’ needs. These factors combined make FLR a unique and highly effective solution for businesses seeking flexible legal resources.
What happens if a talent is on holiday or on sick leave, how do you handle such situations?
If the talent is not working for whatever reason, clients do not need to pay a fee. Essentially, clients only pay for the working days of the talent. This allows our clients to transparently plan their available budgets. In the unlikely case that a talent is out of work for a longer period, for example due to sickness, we will provide a suitable replacement for our clients.
If I permanently want to hire a person from PwC’s FLR, is this possible?
Yes, of course. Essentially, we often come across such situations. Clients lease a certain FLR person from us and if they see it is a good fit, this often results in a permanent position where the talent will be directly hired by our client. It is a win-win situation for both sides, since both our client and also the talent have sufficient time to get to know each other and see if it is a good fit.
