Does What Goes Around Really Comes Around? The Mediating Effect of CSR on the Relationship between Transformational Leadership and Employee’s Job Performance in Law Firms

Abstract

Leadership is essential for the success of every organization, as people believe in the ability of their leaders to guide change and achieve success. Today’s law firms are operating in a complex business environment and facing huge competition from both clients and talent. Tough competition, business alliances, corporate social responsibleness, and market conditions demand a huge transformation in the law industry. This study was designed to investigate the relationships between transformational leadership (TL), employee’s job performance (JP), and corporate social responsibility (CSR), as well the mediating mechanism of CSR among TL and JP. The data has been collected from 200 employees working in law firms of Pakistan by using a cross sectional research method. The study hypothesized that TL is significantly related to JP and CSR; in addition, CSR mediates the relationship between TL and JP. Results confirm our conjectures, hence allowing us to contribute to the scant literature of TL, CSR, and JP in the law industry. Our study provides important information to the decision makers who are involved in policymaking; that the adoption of TL practices and involvement in CSR activities can improve JP. Moreover, theoretical and practical implementations are provided for generalization.