In 1997, McKinsey & Company introduced the term “war for talent” to describe the ongoing battle organisations faced in attracting and retaining the best talent. Almost 30 years later, nothing has changed and yet everything has changed.

I want to address the war for talent inside law firms. It is a generational war between partners and associates. A chasm has emerged between what partners want from their associates and what associates want and expect from their partners and firms.