Axiom, the new-breed law firm with the tag line that it redefines law, is bringing over 100 law jobs to Belfast, Ireland with a new outsourcing model. But is this just creating a new India out of Ireland? Or is it something more?
Axiom, which was founded in 2000 as a top-end temp agency that offered jobs to lawyers who weren’t interested in killing themselves for big bucks. Starting with offices in New York and San Francisco it expanded to London in 2008 and now continues to grow its services by offering prices well beneath other firms.
Axiom’s announcement says it will create 102 new jobs in Belfast, having chosen the location partly because of the calibre of its graduates.
Some would criticise the firm for its cookie-cutter, outsourcing approach, but others say it is creating well paid jobs in an international market that demands better prices and quality work.
The US-owned business, which was founded by venture capital and is based on a corporate rather than partnership model, said financial support had helped, with it benefiting from £1.1m from Invest NI for an eight-year investment plan and £489,000 from the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL).
General manager Chris DeConti said the jobs would be permanent posts and in place by 2014.
He said its lawyers would conduct work for client firms from the Belfast office though some negotiations could be conducted in person at the clients’ offices.
Salaries will range from £18,000 to “four or five times that” depending on experience.
Mr DeConti said salaries were less than in London but said: “It is competitive with what top firms would be paying in Northern Ireland.”
