Professional Development & Training Manager

New York, NY or Boston, MA 

Summary

Develops and implements substantive legal training and other professional development programs, both locally and firm-wide, with a specific focus on an assigned practice group or geography. Provides general training and development support to other practice groups in the local office. Works closely with the training and development teams to ensure the continued professional development of the firm’s attorneys.

Actively provides client service by participating in the firm’s Service Excellence initiative. Ensures that staff members are providing quality service to internal members/departments of the firm as well as external clients and vendors by displaying professionalism via electronic and print correspondence, over the telephone and in-person and by encouraging an atmosphere that rewards a “can do” attitude. 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Works with the Managing Director of Legal Personnel and Development and other members of the Professional Development and Training team to identify and address training needs, develop curricula, and implement programs to maximize effectiveness and quality, with a focus on an assigned practice group or geography.
• Works with internal and external presenters to deliver effective training for attorneys of all levels from summer associate to partner.
• Delivers effective training based on one’s specific subject matter expertise.
• Works with the other Professional Development and Training Managers to manage the training and development team firm-wide.
• Identifies and coordinates internal and external resources for the delivery of competency and practice related skills such as legal writing and research, oral communication and presentation, managerial skills and business development.
• Assists with annual budgeting process for Professional Development and Training.
• Works with the members of the Professional Development and Training team to build new initiatives and programs to ensure the continued professional development of the firm’s attorneys.
• Keeps abreast of trends in professional development for attorneys, and evaluates seminar content and presenter effectiveness to ensure efficient delivery of material content and attorney interest on topic. Evaluates programs against attorney development in respective areas.
• Provides referral services as necessary to attorneys with specific training and/or development needs.
• Increases firm awareness of internal and external training and development opportunities.
• Assumes additional responsibilities as assigned.

Required Skills

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Excellent management and interpersonal skills.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong teamwork skills with a collaborative approach to working with others at all levels of seniority.
• Extensive knowledge of professional development, instructional design and adult learning, or extensive knowledge of law firms and practice of law.
• Detail oriented and high attention to quality.
• Ability to organize and implement training programs.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree required and JD or other Masters preferred. 

Required Experience

• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in active legal practice or training and development required; experience in corporate or intellectual property practice preferred.