This week I have been talking to a client about the firm's leadership development and training needs. We ended up with a long discussion about the best way to bring in additional management training that will fit with attendees busy schedules. Other topics included how to help lawyers at all levels develop their presentation skills and networking/marketing skills.
As it happens, an article in Legal Week, dated 5 July 2007 shows how timely the conversation was. Click on the link below to read the article. You will see that the survey of lawyers at all levels in UK firm and UK based US law firms showed up 70 percent of respondents regarding leadership and managerial training to be part of their professional development needs.
Interestingly 84-84 percent of both trainees and partners recognize a need for presentation skills training. 69 percent of Partners echoed the need to improve their mentoring skills. I'm sure this will be appreciated by their staff if they follow through and get the training or coaching they need.
I thought it was interesting that only 37 percent said that formal business and economics training was "part and parcel" of their ongoing professional training. While it is clearing necessary for commercial lawyers my own view is that most lawyer would benefit from this. If nothing else it will help enormously with cross-selling. When networking other people want to meet lawyers who can demonstrate their wider abilities as professional advisors with their finger on the pulse!
