“Is environmental damage an inevitable consequence of the pursuit of growth in GDP?”

ASSESSMENT

You are a trainee at Odburn and Clear LLP (OC), a leading international law firm with offices in 11 major cities throughout the UK and Europe and its headquarters in London.

QUESTION 1

OC’s environmental lawyers are hosting a conference for existing and potential clients on current environmental law developments. As part of that conference OC will have stands in the foyer at which junior lawyers will present a short paper on a topical area into which they have researched. Attendees at the conference will circulate the stands and gain an insight into the issues so the paper needs to be short, professional in tone, thought provoking, well researched and demonstrate critical evaluation. The title for the paper you have been allocated is as follows:

“Is environmental damage an inevitable consequence of the pursuit of growth in GDP?”

You have been advised as a guide to:

• Use approximately 1000 words for the paper.

• Evaluate the component parts of the current calculation of the UK’s GDP from the point of view of the relationship between growth in GDP and environmental damage. Provide examples where you can from your research.

The component parts are:

GDP = C + I + G + (NX)

Where

C is private consumption I is private investment
G is government spending NX is imports minus exports

• Research alternative metrics which focus on sustainability and critically evaluate two of the most useful alternatives.

Total marks for Question 1: 30 marks

Given the flexible working patterns of their lawyers OC are considering reducing their city centre footprint nationally and instead opening hot desk office space close to public transport hubs. The footprint reduction will produce significant cost savings. A schedule of the likely cost savings and the estimated costs of the hot desk facilities is set out below.

Your supervising partner, Raul Patel is to attend a partners’ meeting at which the issues are to be discussed. When speaking to Raul you mentioned the payback method and net present value (NPV) as a way of analysing the data, he was impressed that you had such an insight. Raul has asked you to prepare a note for him to read prior to the meeting in which you provide:

(a) A payback period calculation based on the information in the grid below and an analysis of the usefulness of this method in this scenario.

(10 marks)

(b) An explanation of NPV including what it would add to the analysis together with any factors to take into account in using NPV.

(10 marks)

(c) Your analysis of the risks and benefits of the proposed plan. Please ensure your note covers the wider commercial implications as well as financial issues, drawing conclusions where you can.

(10 marks)

Year 0 Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5
Cost saving – reduction in city centre footprint (based on current cost) 7m 7m 7m 7m 7m 7m
Investment in setting up and running hot desk space (12m) (5m) (3m) (3m) (3m) (3m)

Total marks for Question 2: 30 marks
Question 3
You were recently involved in preparing a pitch for a client. Your team are going to prepare a pitch for the work of a large retail company but your seat in the department has come to an end. Your partner has asked you to prepare a note for incoming trainees in which you set out:

(a) Your reflections on what you personally learnt from the process, please include your initial view and how you adjusted your view as a result of the process; and

(5 marks)

(b) An instructional guide for new trainees in which you explain the rationale for the pitch process and provide instructions and guidance for preparing the content and delivering a pitch. Please reference useful resources throughout your guide which the trainees can use to explore points more deeply.

(15 marks)

Total marks for Question 3: 20 marks

QUESTION 4

Ruby Abara, the recruitment partner at OC, has drafted questions to be put to all candidates at the forthcoming trainee interviews. She has asked you to provide a brief answer to the following strategy question for use by members of the interview panel.

“Is the increasing use of legal technology by in-house lawyers a threat or an opportunity to OC?”