White Papers & Case Studies from West LegalEdcenter
West LegalEdcenter's white papers and case studies can help you learn industry best practices, enhance your success and better understand the industry. We hope you find this information helpful and implement what you learn into your own organization. Please feel free to share this information with your colleagues.
Articles
Mobile CLE Lessons from the Development Trenches
Traditionally, the only way for attorneys to earn credit on the go was with a downloadable podcast, or audio or videotapes. While these methods are certainly handy, the MCLE credit available was limited to self-study in some states, with other states ruling out credit altogether.
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The Metamorphosis of Mentoring in the 21st Century
In my work with law professors, bar-association professionals and law-firm leaders, I've learned quite a bit about the knowledge gap between law school and law practice. Law school prepares individuals to think and question like lawyers, but newly minted attorneys often don't know how to apply their new skills and knowledge in a practical way. At a recent NALP roundtable, one general counsel remarked that law schools are like the auto companies they are producing a product that no longer meets the needs of current consumers. Meaning, the expectations of law firms is that new graduates need to know how to do more than think like lawyers. They need to be able to act!
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Social networking and CLE
Check out Thomson Reuters latest blog. Vice President of West LegalEdcenter, Lee Ann Enquist provides insight to this topic.
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White Papers
Increasing the Relevance, Adoption, and Impact of Law Firm Training
Chris Boyd, Senior Director of Professional Services, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Tris Brown, President and CEO, LSA Global
Larry Brown, Senior Manager of Training and Professional Development, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Janice Weekes, Manager of Training and Professional Development, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Setting the Stage
The scene: a big law firms largest conference room, set up for an internal training session. Two partners sit at a raised table in front of 32 expectant attendees sitting classroom-style in rows of seats. The partners confirm that the laptop is connected to the projector and the microphones work, then click to the first slide of the presentation. They talk, the audience listens, and occasionally one of the listeners raises a hand and asks a question.
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From 3LTo 401(K): Seasons of an Attorney's Life
Mark I. Sirkin, Ph.D.
Hildebrandt Baker Robbins, a Thomson Reuters Business
The professional career trajectory in the average large law firm has never been easy or straightforward. There were, however, inevitable stages that one attained, mastered, and passed. Despite all the changes in Big Law (and small law), the trajectory itself has not changed much. It may be more complex and there may be more on and off ramps, but the skills and competencies required to master each stage are nevertheless predictable as responsibilities for matter management and firm leadership increase.
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Dawn of the Great Recovery: The Future of Legal Sector Employment
With her journalism career flourishing at the Washington Post, Rebecca had every expectation of experiencing similar success when she decided to change her professional course. She sailed through law school in New York and passed the bar on her first try. Today, however, Rebecca plans to leave New York City, where she and her husband can no longer afford to live, given her $135,000 law school debt and the absence of employment opportunities in her newly chosen occupation.
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Lawyers Enjoy New Level of Productivity with iPhone Technology
Lee Ann Enquist, Vice President of Professional Development at West LegalEdcenter
From large law firms to solo/small practitioners, attorneys across the country are discovering a new level of productivity and mobility when they combine the functionalities of phones, computers, GPS systems, calendars, MP3 players, digital cameras and other business tools in one easy-to-use format the iPhone. The opportunity to earn CLE credits using mobile apps also makes the iPhone an attractive option for attorneys.
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Emerging Trends in Lawyer Development and Advancement
Caren Ulrich Stacy, Principal, Lawyer Development Strategies, LLC
Focusing on how crisis creates opportunity for change. In the legal industry, the economic crisis has created an opportunity for law firms to rethink their lawyer development and advancement practices to better service and retain clients. With that goal in mind, firms are increasingly focused on five intrinsically linked talent management initiatives - core competencies, experiential learning, apprenticeships, secondments, and merit-based compensation.
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The Future of Legal Education: A Skills Continuum
Prepared by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy
West LegalEdcenter is excited to share the newest white paper developed by NITA. In response to ongoing changes in the legal profession and in an effort to provide new insight into the best ways to improve legal training at all stages of a lawyer's career, the National Institute for Trial Advocacy released a white paper titled "The Future of Legal Education: A Skills Continuum."
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Lockstep to Levels: The Changing Landscape of Law Firm Associate Management
By Larry Richard, J.D., PH.D., Hildebrandt,
and Peter Sloan, Husch Blackwell Sanders LLP
A performance-based levels system focuses on associates' skills or competencies rather than tenure. Read this white paper and learn what a levels system is, why you should implement one in your firm, and the risks involved in doing so.
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The Value of Coaching in the Law Firm
By Cynthia Pladziewicz, J.D., PH.D.
Even in a recession, executive coaching continues to make news in the business world. Read this white paper and understand the importance of coaching and how it can help your firm.
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