If any lawyers out there suspect that some members of their support staff might just have irrelevant and made up non-jobs – they should look across the Atlantic to see the true horror of non-jobism gone mad.

This is because Nicholson Graham & Jones' US suitor, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, has appointed a firm wide Director of Professional and Personal Life Integration (PPLI).

The director, Jeannine Rupp, will work with chief diversity officer and the firm's chief officer for recruitment and development to break down the barriers to PPLI.

"It is increasingly difficult to separate the many identities – lawyer, wife, father, baseball coach, community volunteer – that we all attempt to maintain," she explains.

"By developing and fostering cultures and policies that respect employees' multiple life roles, support various commitments and encourage participation in both paid work and personal life, we expect to improve the quality of working life for all employees and, in turn, enhance their overall productivity and satisfaction."

How sweet. Alternatively she could just use the tried and tested method much used in the UK – call complaining associates into her office and say: "We are paying you little scrotes shit-loads, so just shut up and bill."