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Jepson Holt recently commissioned some small-scale research to look at how well the training needs of lawyers are currently met.
Currently, most work related training for lawyers, is delivered by Law Firms. The content and amount of training outside of basic CPD is entirely discretionary and is at the whim of Firms.
Our suspicion was that individuals do not take responsibility for developing their own skills and in many cases; it has not occurred to them that they should do so.
The first thing we found was that in key areas of non-technical training lawyers want more.
22% said they had presentation skills but 78% wanted them.
11% had General Management Skills but 67% wanted them
22% had People Management Skills but 67% wanted them
11% had Selling Skills but 89% wanted them
No one had Financial Analysis Skills but 56% wanted them
No one had access to coaching or mentoring but 78% wanted it.
This suggests a huge training gap.
Of those interviewed 50% expected training to come from their employer and 40% through professional networks.
In essence they thought that training should come to them, rather than them taking responsibility to get out there and find ways to acquire the skills that they clearly believe they need.
25% actually said they would not be prepared to pay for training!
Whilst 78% wanted coaching or mentoring, only 45% were willing to pay for it.
Consider this proposition:
The commercial value of a lawyer is principally determined by their ability to find, win and keep clients. In order to do that effectively they need to relate to clients and colleagues, to understand the services clients want and to ensure those services are delivered better than the competitors.
This requires a range of skills. Clearly not all of those skills are being delivered by Law Firms. So how, unless you are naturally gifted, are you going to get them?
Our suggestion is that in order to be the best you can be, you must take responsibility for your own career and for equipping yourself with the skills you need.
Some of this you can get from your firm but other training, particularly more specialised and higher level training you need to find for yourself.
Take responsibility for your own life and your own career.
Good Luck!
We would like to thank those who offered or gave 30 minutes of their time to enable our research team to gather the data for this research.
© Phil Jepson 2006
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