The Post: Senior Manager, Global Service Design, Baker McKenzie
The Post Holder: Declan McGarry
A desire to work in a fast-paced environment prompted Declan McGarry to explore a career in law.
Give a brief outline of your career to date.
I qualified as a solicitor back in 2015 after completing a training contract with another law firm and shortly after I moved to Baker McKenzie, working primarily on Mergers & Acquisitions and Reorganisations. I worked in this area for four and a half years and really enjoyed the work, which included a secondment to our San Francisco office. In January 2020 I moved to our Global Service Design Team, working to design, implement and facilitate improvements to the way our lawyers work and how our legal services are delivered worldwide. This includes shaping the firm’s Reinvent strategy (the strategy responsible for Baker McKenzie’s innovation initiatives) and facilitating a “One Team” approach globally by collaborating on key projects across all regions, practice groups and functions.
What was your favourite subject at school?
My favourite subject in school was Art & Design – not that I have used it much since!
Did you go on to further/higher education, if so, what did you study and where?
I originally qualified as a social worker after completing a degree at Queen’s University Belfast, and upon qualification worked as a Probation Officer in West Belfast for two years. I then decided to return to education to study law, completing a Masters in Legal Science and attending the Institute of Professional Legal Studies from 2013 to 2015.
How did you get into your area of work?
The time I spent working on corporate transactions with our offices all over the world, coupled with the experience I gained working in our San Francisco office, helped me develop a keen interest not just in what we do, but how we do it. The dramatic changes we see globally are reflected in the legal industry, with the climate crisis and the rise of technology bringing about changes in societal, market and client needs.
I was excited to join the Global Service Design Team since it gives me the opportunity to help shape how we as a company adapt and thrive in the face of these changes.
Is this what you always wanted to do?
As a new and growing area of law, the role I currently work in has only developed in the last five years. Growing up, I was never sure what I wanted to do. However, I did know I wanted to work in a fast-paced environment with really interesting people and I’m lucky to have found such a role.
Were there any particular essential qualifications or experience needed?
Our team has people with a legal background, however there are also those with design, data analytics and technology backgrounds. Having a legal background certainly helped me with entry into the position, however it is a multi-disciplinary team that has at its core a commitment to continuously improving the client experience.
Are there alternative routes into the job?
The nature of the team means that most routes into the job are alternative! In terms of entry level positions, Baker McKenzie has recently launched a Graduate Programme where trainees will spend two years rotating around four departments (Global Service Design, Legal Project Management, Procurement and Anti-Money Laundering). It’s open to graduates of any discipline and there are plenty of roles where a degree isn’t a necessity.
What are the main personal skills your job requires?
Resilience and persistence. Change is difficult but I’m part of the team that ultimately strives to deliver for our clients, and having a goal in sight and pushing onwards despite the challenges and setbacks is a core part of what I do for the firm.
What does a typical day entail?
Working in a global team, I have regular catch-ups with colleagues across our offices, including London, Frankfurt, Istanbul, and the US. The work I am involved in is largely project-based, therefore much of my day is made up of progressing projects prioritised by the company’s Reinvent strategy. This can range from improving the way we currently deliver legal services to developing new services for our clients. No two days are ever the same, which is the main reason I enjoy the role.
What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?
An exciting aspect of my role is looking at how the current culture of work will develop in the coming years and preparing Baker McKenzie to stay ahead of these changes. This presents huge challenges from a technological, operational and people perspective, however it is this challenge which makes the job so interesting.
Why is what you do important?
The Global Service Design Team is about improving the client experience. However, to do that we need to start with our people. As part of this team, I design solutions that help create the conditions for our people to excel at what they do, seeking to continuously improve how the company operates. Creating that type of work environment makes our people more fulfilled and engaged, ultimately ensuring we deliver better legal services for our clients. Ultimately that’s what makes what our team does so important.
How has Covid-19 impacted your business/role?
Baker McKenzie has operated across the globe successfully for years which is why we’ve coped so well as a company and as individuals during the pandemic. The biggest impact has been the acceleration in legal technology adoption, which has created a much greater need for a defined and coordinated approach to both selecting the right technology and ensuring it is implemented in the right way.
What adjustments have you had to make?
Our hybrid-remote working policy enables me to spend more time with my family, which is something I am very grateful for. It has also allowed me to move closer to my extended family since I am not required to commute every day. I am very lucky that I can live in rural Ireland and still play an active role in one of the best law firms in the world.
What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?
Having started as a social worker, I could never have foreseen the career I am working in now. Follow your interests and whatever you do, give it 100% – you may end up doing something you never expected but that you really enjoy.
If you weren’t doing this, what would you like to do?
I’d love to be a full-time gardener.
What is the one piece of advice you would give to yourself on your first day?
It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Describe your ideal day off.
With an active three-year-old to raise, it would firstly involve a lie in! Afterwards I’d enjoy either a trip to the beach in Donegal or up the Mournes, followed by dinner and drinks with family and friends.
And finally, what’s the key to any successful job search?
Don’t be put off if you don’t meet all the criteria listed in the job description. The best employers are looking for people who are hardworking, adaptable, and willing to learn. Show examples of how you demonstrate these qualities and you will give yourself the best opportunity to be successful in your job search.
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