Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/87421
What strategies do you use for training and development at the law firm? Don: The most challenging part of any training program is getting in Elaine: I make sure that I work with the HR trainers to get onto the calendar for new hires, and I work with the IT trainers to make sure that our program offerings are integrated with their software calendaring system. I sit in on some of our practice group meetings to ensure that our programs are in the areas that the firm wants to focus on. Since we have 11 offices with disparate training needs, it takes coordination and feedback to ensure that our front of the lawyers. Making attendance mandatory helps a great deal! We also try to get in front of practice groups at their formal luncheons. Something we found that works well for our younger associates, who are still in "school mode," is exercise questions. I give them a list of research problems that require them to search through the resources I've just taught them to utilize. I also throw in a couple of questions that require them to ask for help from me or one of the other librarians in the room. This drives home the point that the research staff is a key resource for legal research as well. These exercise questions are remarkably popular. Using them is a technique I learned from our late colleague Helen Lawless, who was a junior high school teacher before she became a law librarian. Much of what I know about teaching lawyers I learned from Helen. I find that training that is brief, immediately relevant and skills-oriented is a good approach. programs are timely and relevant. In addition, since some of the training sessions need to be remote, sending an agenda to participants ahead of time helps them anticipate what will be covered during the training. Leaving time at the end of the session for questions and identifying a contact for further training is also important. What makes a training program successful? Don: If lawyers find what they need when they need it or understand whom to call if they can't, then I think the training has been successful. When I get a call from a lawyer that begins, "You showed us that website where you can…," I take that as a sign the instruction got through. Elaine: A training program is successful if a) it is attended, b) questions are asked during or after the presentation that indicate interest in the subject, c) it is vetted and part of a larger vision for the training needs of the firm, d) there is partner-level endorsement of the program, and e) there is desire for repeat programs after it has occurred. 82 AALL/ILTA White Paper