One of the more abused titles in recent times. For senior senior associates who are non-partnership track, or put there as a holding position until they get on the track. Also because it wouldn't be appropriate to give them consultant positions as the latter usually reserved for grey haired practitioners.

A&G uses it as an additional rung before junior partner.

Strangely, some firms also give rather junior lawyers the title of "counsel", probably just as a way of making their assocs feel better about themselves? Usually the newfangled or boutique ones. *cough Providence * cough

I thought of counsel is just like a lawyer who has an association with the firm but doesnt work full time.

Guys I know this is purely semantics but pls note there is a difference between “counsel” and “of counsel”

Counsel is just a description for any lawyer. Could be an associate or a partner. In firms that prefer to have a flatter structure, usually the smaller ones, they just call you counsel rather than associate. Adds a bit more legitimacy when meeting clients.

Now the “of counsel” is a very different animal.
In BM London, and not BMWL, they do have Of counsel which is essentially a local principal in BMWL.
Of counsel is a step after managing/senior associate and just before equity partnership. Some firms lik

In smaller local firms, sometimes “of counsel” is used to reward very exceptional talents in the legal industry before they can be of officially made up to partner because of the 3 year time bar. Other times “of counsel” is used to denote that the person involved with the firm is a very senior lawyer more than 10pqe but has no intention of being a partner.

So in bmwl local principal is condemned? What if the local principal is like at least 16 years PQE? Condemned anot? I heard the local principals behave like they some hot shot partners but seems like you are saying they are not proper partners? Is it is it

Lose the attitude.

Honest question here, but how do you network with people outside your own firm? Seems that alot of the partners generally know the partners from other firms (not sure if it is because the cohort used to be smaller or they're in the same field for so long)?

Why are you so triggered u from bmwl?

Duh. Some condemned of counsel there.

Harder during covid period. Try tinder, cmb or bumble. Helps if you are chio or sachok.

Yep in the past the call batches were much smaller. 150 or 200 plus max, and most studied only in NUS with a few going to the UK. So almost everyone knew everyone. Plus if you're in practice long enough, you will know and hear the same few names frm the same area of practice you're in.

The composition of the legal fraternity has changed with the influx of so many foreign grads from so many different subpar overseas law schools, and the expansion of local law school places too.