Erica wasn't persuaded. And neither was Jack. Lack of common ground will cause other Gen Xers in Jack's firm to leave and cost Jack's firm profits. Because Xers are the only available talent pool Jack has to choose from, Jack is the one who must change. This basic difference in working style must be bridged by good management.
Law firms can be excellent places to work and most have many resources to offer lawyers.
Gen Xers are waiting for firm leaders to tell them and show them, on a voluntary and regular basis, what those reasons are. Managing Generation X lawyers, those lawyers who began to join law firms in 1988 and will continue to fill associate ranks until 2006, is a challenge for most firms because Xers have many options. Many Xers have made substantial sums of money by breaking rules and doing things their own way. Xers are willing to take risks with their careers and to make unconventional choices. The Providence Business News reported that 80 percent of Americans trying to start their own businesses today are Gen Xers between the ages of 18 and 34.