Supervision in the Legal Profession (eBook)

Michael J. McNamara is a lecturer in law at Flinders University and an adjunct research fellow at the Griffith University Law Futures Centre (both in Australia). Prior to becoming a full-time academic, Michael worked as a solicitor in a range of legal practice settings including: a top-tier national firm; a small commercial firm; and as a sole practitioner. Michael has also supervised law students in a live-client clinic based in a community legal centre.

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This book is about supervision in the legal profession with a focus on the experience of novice lawyers. It is the first of its kind. Until now there have been a range of books dedicated to professional supervision in many disciplines, but not law. Supervision is an important link between formal university-based legal education and independent practice and is relevant to a range of contemporary legal practice issues including changes driven by technology, workplace culture, regulating law firm management, and well-being. This book aims to be scholarly and practical. It provides an overview of how supervision is positioned in the legal regulatory framework; it describes how supervision is conceived in the legal profession and practice management literature; and draws lessons from clinical legal education and other professional disciplines. By reporting on survey data, this book also provides insights into practitioners' attitudes and perceptions about supervision inlegal practice.