But Cobbett and others believe money is not the sole reason for the departures. At McCarthy Tetrault, Manna's former firm, the stepped-up efforts of New York recruiters have been noted. But Julie Chenette, head of the firm's recruiting committee, says there is still a large pool of talent to draw from. The firm annually receives 400 to 500 resumes for 15 to 20 articling positions. And while Chenette said McCarthy Tetrault would like the best talent to stay in Montreal, she also has a broad take on the issue.
People move around more, are more open to change, to pull up roots.
We have a good quality of life here. Maybe there is not much we can do anyway if these people are leaving because they want a new experience. Like many other large Montreal firms, McCarthy Tetrault's salaries for first-year lawyers have increased steadily over the past decade. There is no institutionalized system of bonuses. It's just a different brand of practice.