Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/5394
ILTA White Paper Firm University 14 FIrm UnIversIty goaLs Our goals were to offer and track ongoing workshops for continued education, to determine training needs and to prepare for skills assessments for secretaries. We also needed to improve productivity for all secretaries. aLIgnment WIth FIrm goaLs Increased individual productivity helps to reduce costs (overtime), improve client service and improve the overall health of our documents. management bUy-In Our firm university was created when we conducted our first skills assessment in 2006. We really did not need to sell the idea. We said we were creating a NGE University to improve productivity and they said "Great idea!". Firm management and HR receive reports for year-end evaluations. All secretaries are required to achieve four credits per year. This information goes into their file and is part of their review. Continued education in all areas is an ongoing firmwide initiative for attorneys and staff alike. marketIng The credit requirement is the most significant incentive to attend classes. We make announcements at the quarterly secretary meetings with any new classes or programs being offered and ask for input for suggested workshops. We send out e-mail messages for new classes and send out tips of the week. We encourage the secretaries to drive the classes that are offered so that they feel more involved. LearnIng opportUnItIes Classroom training, e-learning and the use of outside training vendors for classes that are not offered in-house. traCkIng Class participation is tracked through our LMS. Each secretary is assigned to a learning plan which indicates the classes they still need to take before the learning plan deadline. Each year a new learning plan is created and assigned to all secretaries. InCentIves or CertIFICatIons We are in the process of offering SME certifications, and secretaries know that their achievements are noted in a report to HR. ImpaCt on sUCCess We have greatly increased our core competency level. This year we had a baseline score of 78 percent in Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Darla C. Glab Firm . . . . . . . Neal Gerber & Eisenberg LLP City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chicago Number of Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Number of Learners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 400