The document discusses a professional development institute that focused on defining leadership competencies and developing leaders at law firms. It provides an overview of presentations from leaders at Akin Gump, Bingham, and the NALP Foundation on their processes for identifying competencies, creating formal training programs, and giving emerging leaders experience through roles and real work. They emphasized the need for long-term, tailored development approaches and evaluating outcomes.

1. Learning From YOUR Law Firm Leaders
Kim Koopersmith, Chairperson, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Susan Manch, Firmwide Director of Learning & Development, Bingham
Michelle Nash, Senior Vice President, The NALP Foundation for Law
Career Research and Education

2. Agenda
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Background on the book and context
Defining leadership competencies
Discussion – Identifying competencies
Developing leaders
NALP / ALI CLE 2013 Professional Development Institute • December 12 – 13, 2013

4. Institutions of higher learning must move, as the historian
Walter Russell Mead puts it, from a model of “time served” to a
model of “stuff learned.” Because increasingly the world does
not care what you know. Everything is on Google. The world only
cares, and will only pay for, what you can do with what you
know.
. . . We’re moving to a more competency-based world where
there will be less interest in how you acquired the competency
— . . . and more demand to prove that you mastered the
competency.
Thomas Friedman, NYT Columnist
March 5, 2013

5. The Leaders
• 31 leaders interviewed
• 13 firm Chair, 9 Managing Partners, five
Committee Chair, three Practice Leaders, and
one Office Managing Partner
• Large, medium, and smaller firms and one
solo
• Emerging, current, and senior leaders
NALP / ALI CLE 2013 Professional Development Institute • December 12 – 13, 2013

6. NALP / ALI CLE 2013 Professional Development Institute • December 12 – 13, 2013

7. NALP / ALI CLE 2013 Professional Development Institute • December 12 – 13, 2013

8. Discussion Point
Which leadership competencies does
today’s market demand?
NALP / ALI CLE 2013 Professional Development Institute • December 12 – 13, 2013

9. Developing Firm Leaders
• Define leadership roles and competencies for
each role
• Create formal programs
– Current leaders – next gen – women – minorities
• Identify candidates and communicate “why
this person” to all
• Develop tailored training approaches
NALP / ALI CLE 2013 Professional Development Institute • December 12 – 13, 2013

10. Kim’s Path to Leadership
NALP / ALI CLE 2013 Professional Development Institute • December 12 – 13, 2013

11. What Akin is Doing
NALP / ALI CLE 2013 Professional Development Institute • December 12 – 13, 2013

12. What Bingham is Doing
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Senior Leadership Conference
PLDP
Practice Group Retreats
One on One Program
NALP / ALI CLE 2013 Professional Development Institute • December 12 – 13, 2013

13. Influencing Factors
• Globalization
• Diversity
• Technology
NALP / ALI CLE 2013 Professional Development Institute • December 12 – 13, 2013

14. Development Best Practices
NALP / ALI CLE 2013 Professional Development Institute • December 12 – 13, 2013

15. Development Best Practices
• Not a one-shot program – think months/years
• Must have current leaders’ buy-in and active
participation
• Give next gen leaders real problems to tackle
• Build relationships within the group
– In-person meetings
– Team tasks
NALP / ALI CLE 2013 Professional Development Institute • December 12 – 13, 2013

16. Considerations
• Evaluate results
– Design appropriate metrics
• Recognize that some people will fail to
emerge as leaders for specific roles and have a
plan
– People can add value without “leading”
NALP / ALI CLE 2013 Professional Development Institute • December 12 – 13, 2013

17. Conclusion
• Next generation of leadership
• Strategic plan for managing change
• Where do we go from here?
– Goals and action plan for you/your firm?
NALP / ALI CLE 2013 Professional Development Institute • December 12 – 13, 2013

18. Contact Information
Kim Koopersmith
Chairperson
Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld
kkoopersmith@akingump.com
Sue Manch
Firmwide Director of Learning &
Development
Bingham
susan.manch@bingham.com
Michelle Nash
Vice President
NALP Foundation
mnash@nalpfoundation.org
NALP / ALI CLE 2013 Professional Development Institute • December 12 – 13, 2013