The quarterly publication of the International Legal Technology Association
Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/96072
case studies New Associates Add Value on Day One by Amy Sladczyk Hancock of Andrews Kurth LLP As anyone who has attended law school and developed a career within law firms can tell you, the law school curriculum does not fully prepare students for the actual practice of law. Law school teaches you to think like a lawyer, to hone your analytical skills and to refine your writing skills, but then there's a gap. At Andrews Kurth, we are delivering business training to new associates that aims to bridge that gap. Where It All Started After the market changed in 2008/2009, law firms across the country started focusing on showing clients the multiple ways in which they can add value. Law schools also realized that incoming students expect to receive more educational offerings for their tuition dollars. These concerns made us sensitive to the possibilities of easing the transition for law students into the law firm environment, so they could make meaningful contributions to the firm right away. Andrews Kurth heard about the Fullbridge Program after its inception in 2010. This program brings in third-party coaches with degrees from elite, top-tier business schools to provide training, ongoing feedback and mentoring during individual 32 Peer to Peer exercises and team projects — projects designed to focus on the development and adoption of a sense of business in the context of legal work. At the same time, I was contacted by several law schools that worked with my alma mater, the University of Texas School of Law, to develop a curriculum for law students regarding this same concept. We coined a six-week training seminar called "Prepared to Practice Institute," in which I gave them insight into the training we offered to new associates joining the firm. This seminar provided students with something beyond the Socratic Method and writing skills; it gave them practical business skills that could show potential law firms they would add value from day one, giving students a competitive advantage in the marketplace. It was clear this type of educational offering was gaining traction. A Respected Recommendation The idea of having real-world business professionals, company owners and business school professors collaborate with us to deliver relevant training was intriguing, so we monitored the work