Professional development forms an essential core of the legal profession. It facilitates lawyers to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving industry and to develop the key skills needed to succeed in their practice. The responsibility of funding such professional development initiatives, however, remains a subject of intense debate.
In a recent discussion, Molly Hurley Kellett of Connell Foley stressed the importance of sustaining these initiatives. She underlined, “We can’t leave it to others to take care of that and assume there’s going to be a broad market in five years’ time. We want to herald lawyers into the profession and give them the skills they need to succeed in the practice of law.” Kellett’s insights offer a valuable perspective to law firms and corporations worldwide wrestling with the dilemma of how to fund professional development.
While some assert that workplace learning initiatives are a personal investment of the attorneys, others argue for the firm’s accountability in fostering a culture of continuous learning. The legal industry’s foremost leaders agree that a joint contribution from both ends can yield the most productive infrastructures for professional development.
Nevertheless, the debate continues revealing profound implications for the future of legal talent development and the industry’s capability to adapt to emerging legal trends and challenges.