Really Strange Law Firm Commercial

[wserra]

The very large (globally nearly 3000 lawyers), newly-merged UK law firm King & Wood Mallesons SJ Berwin has made what can only be described as a truly bizarre commercial.

One has to wonder what type of business they were looking to attract with this. Benny Hill fans?

[AndyK]

Okay all you first-year associates:

Your first assignment is to take part in a wet t-shirt contest which will be taped and aired across the world.

Your second assignment will be to maintain credibility with your clients.

[Dai Kiwi]

Forget about the Youtube comments. Tell them direct how you feel:
london@eu.kwm.com
syd@au.kwm.com
lon@mallesons.com

[fortinbras]

Must admit it's a very strange commercial (with the Yakkety Sax music from Benny Hill). In the US, law firm commercials emphasize how hardworking the lawyers and staff are.

[Arthur Rubin]

In my interviewing course, the instructor suggested tuning your presentation to the desires of the client. Now, I can't think of a particular client that presentation would be tuned to, but I can image some entertainment industry clients who might be interested -- perhaps Benny Hill actors (who think they are) cheated out of residuals?

[Number Six]

Client money at work? fostering the usual problem lawyer stereotypes, and add to those unserious, lackadaisical, and entertainment activities. It brings to mind Dennis Kozlowski in his last days....

[littleroundman]

As per the logo at the top of the teeshirt of the young lady in the last scene, (don't lie you guys, you didn't look that far up) they are definitely intent on achieving their stated aim of "defying stereotypes"

Given the British legal systems' adherence to its' Victorian era traditions, the ad could be seen as an attempt at humanizing the "law"

or, to put it another way, they are deliberately sticking it up the establishment.

[wserra]

or, to put it another way, they are deliberately sticking it up the establishment.

I'm sure that's the way they intended it. Problem is, they - and their clients - are the establishment.

[fortinbras]

When I hire a lawyer or law firm, I want them burning the midnight oil working on the pleadings, not getting drunk and disorderly.

[littleroundman]

or, to put it another way, they are deliberately sticking it up the establishment.

I'm sure that's the way they intended it. Problem is, they - and their clients - are the establishment.

Want to make a bet a trendy pitchman for an advertising agency convinced them "perception is everything" and the public perceives lawyers to be stuffy and out of touch" then followed up with: "Pay us a squillion pounds and we will change the publics' perception of your lawyers / law firm"

[notorial dissent]

And they were dumb enough to believe that????

Doesn't sound like any law firm I would want to deal with, or really trust.

Thank you, I'll take my lawyers stuffy and properly British looking over sleazy and used car dealerish any day.

May just be my familial prejudices kicking in, but I don't see that going over well across the pond with the type of clientele a firm intent on surviving and having a good reputation would want, and I certainly can't see it working well on this side either.