Developments in the areas of data protection and compliance are proving challenge for lawyers, as such changes can mean employment legislation is quickly out of date, according to D\u00e1lia Cardadeiro, partner at BAS Law Firm.<\/p>\n
Improvements in general market conditions in Portugal have brought new challenges and concerns for both clients and law firms, she adds. \u201cThe economic business climate is changing on a global scale and at enormous speed,\u201d says Cardadeiro. \u201cThis change introduces new topics of interest, however, the adaptation and evolution of the legal system is still slow.\u201d She adds that this makes it challenging lawyers to provide answers and solutions to clients on new aspects of business where legislation is \u201cstill out of sync with reality\u201d.<\/p>\n
Among the areas where there is increasing demand from clients for legal advice are data protection and privacy, flexible working and smart working. With the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) applicable from May 2018, clients are urgently requesting advice, consultancy and training from law firms. There is also a demand for employment advice related to real estate and banking, according to Cardadeiro.<\/p>\n
While clients are beginning to recruit more people, so too are law firms. A key challenge facing law firms in this respect, according to Cardadeiro, is adapting to the needs and desires of new lawyers and \u2018millennials\u2019. In a very competitive market, firms need to recognise the \u201cnew way in which young lawyers see the future and way of working, in order to give them good conditions and challenges\u201d, Cardadeiro says. \u201cThey are hardworking but also want to live life to the fullest.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to provide innovation and technology, because in the legal field, constant adaptation to new technology is crucial.\u201d<\/p>\n