In such a tough economic climate, you would have thought assistants and associates would be keeping their heads down - and counting their blessings that they have a job at all.

Not so. They've never been so demanding, claim some firms, and firms in turn are being most attentive to them.

Managing the career of assistants and associates, and promoting their progression, appears to be going up the agenda of law firms.

The objective: retain top talent, whatever the economic weather.

Read the full article "Responding in the fight to keep the best lawyers" at lawgazette.co.uk.