Author: Jessie Spressart
PDC Trusted Advisor
Founder and Managing Director
Optia Consulting LLC
In a landscape where change is constant, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or lose sight of what matters most. When we aren’t working at our best, our well-being can suffer, and when we aren’t taking care of ourselves, it’s harder to perform at the level we (and others) expect. That’s where the OPTIA Framework comes in—a comprehensive approach I use to guide clients...
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Nov
04
04
Author: Jarrett Green
Well-Being, Stress Resilency, & Peak Performance
NKB Consultancy
Lecturer in Law at USC Law School
Most leadership norms that exist within law firms today, particularly at the attorney level, are based on a long-outdated, hierarchical style where the leader wields authority over their subordinates and communicates directives in a top-down manner (i.e., the “Command and Control” model of...
Oct
21
21
Author: Sandra Bang
PDC Trusted Advisor
Founder & CEO
Sable Group
Recently I facilitated a workshop on career advancement for senior law firm executives and leaders. It was a privilege to create and foster a space within which we could review and reflect, share and discuss, and plan and write our professional and personal intentions.
How does one manage “career advancement” or continue to move onward after having successfully fulfilled a senior role...
Oct
07
07
Author: Elise Powers
Founder of Eleview Consulting
Change is hard. We all know how hard it can be to change our behaviors, whether it is forcing yourself out of bed a half-hour earlier each day, starting a new well-being practice or changing a work habit. But the hardest type of change to make happen? Getting attorneys to embrace change.
Attorneys are often change-resistant, and there’s good reason for it:
TIME: Change requires time and energy, and the billable hour...
Sep
30
30
Author: Kiko Korn
PDC Trusted Advisor Alumni
Owner
Legal Writing Works
In 2019 I gave a PDC Webinar called 10 Ways to Win @ Email. I remember being nervous—not about the topic (how to draft clear, professional emails) but about the medium. There would be no audience smiles, no nods when I asked if anyone had ever forgotten to attach an attachment. How would I know if people were engaged?
Fast-forward five years to a world where remote, hybrid work and...
Aug
27
27
Author: Tiffany McLean
Warner Norcross & Judd
Training Manager
The PDC Mastermind program, titled "Turning Lawyers into Rainmakers" and facilitated by David Freeman, was an initiative designed to empower professional development (PD) professionals with the skills and strategies necessary to guide internal clients in business development (BD) from a PD perspective—a critical area often overshadowed by traditional marketing approaches.
Why I Joined the Mastermind...
Jun
20
20
Author: Tracy LaLonde
Chief Joychiever
Joychiever
In the competitive, high-octane world of law firms, the concept of engagement often gets overshadowed by billable hours, client demands, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Yet, beneath this facade of unwavering dedication lies a critical, often overlooked ingredient to a firm's success: the impact of how someone is managed on engagement.
While we universally acknowledge the importance of good management, an...
Apr
23
23
Author: Ian Nelson
PDC Trusted Advisor
Co-Founder, Hotshot
First – a huge thank you
A few months ago, I was told that I had been selected to lead the PDC’s two-day winter
intensive certificate program. The topic I proposed was on experiential learning and
GenAI, with a focus on designing training programs to elevate lawyer skills in the GenAI
era.
It was an honor to be selected, and I also took it as a huge responsibility. The PDC is a
group that took me in when I quit...
Apr
04
04
Interview with Darien Fleming for PDC Blog
Building trust as a tool of engagement
PDC: Darien, you were telling us about your perspective on trust. We know trust is important to build in terms of relationships, but how should we think about building trust?
DF: Yeah, I think it's really hard. It is the thing that is so essential to every relationship, but I think that almost everyone questions, “how do I build it?” “how do I do it?” So, I think you're asking the right...
Mar
14
14
Author: Rachael Bosch
PDC Trusted Advisor
Rachael Bosch is the CEO and founder at Fringe PD, where their mission is to help people communicate better and create more human workplaces.
A lot goes into someone's professional growth, and feedback almost always plays a key role. With the importance of getting quality feedback in all our professional (and personal!) lives, I am constantly amazed at how 'nice' feedback continues to permeate. Being 'nice' when giving feedback has been...
Feb
14
14
Author: Dr. Larry Richard
PDC Trusted Advisor
LawyerBrain LLC
Law firm leaders are constantly trying to get their lawyers to do stuff:
“Turn in your timesheets!”
“Mentor younger lawyers.”
“Show up at partners meetings.”
“Come back to the office.”
Or they’re busy trying to get lawyers to not do stuff:
“Stop hoarding work.”
“Don’t use social media to discuss sensitive matters.”
“Don’t micromanage associates.”
Yet many leaders are frustrated at how hard it...
Jan
17
17
Author: Jackie Cranford
PDC Trusted Advisor
Founder and Principal
Cranford Advisory Services LLC
In the words of The Rolling Stones, “please allow me to introduce myself.” I am a Professional Development Consortium (PDC) Trusted Advisor, a former Big Law litigator, a former DOJ trial attorney, and a talent management professional committed to enhancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). Of course, all of this one can...
Dec
05
05
Author: Aisha Greene
PDC Board of Directors
Director of Attorney Development and Training
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
It is well past time for us to come up with another term for "soft skills". As defined, "soft" means that something is easy or not hard. "Soft skills" are personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively with other people. By contrast, hard skills or technical skills are defined as objective, quantifiable skills gained through training,...
Nov
15
15
Author: David Freeman
Founder
David Freeman Consulting Group and Lawyer BookBuilder
PDC TA profile
The dynamics of compound interest apply both to building wealth and developing the skills to build that wealth. “Deposits” that are made now in training associates how to become great rainmakers can compound into much greater returns in the future. In this piece...
Oct
16
16
Author: Paula Davis-Laack
Stress & Resilience Institute
Lawyer Strong LLC
PDC TA Profile
PDC Call Me For- Video
LinkedIn
When you think about stress, what comes to mind first? Big work and life stressors or the everyday hassles that are part of life? In their new book, The Microstress Effect, Rob Cross and Karen Dillon suggest that microstress – small moments of stress in your personal and professional life that...
Sep
12
12
Author:
Benjamin K. Grimes (he/him)
BKG Leadership Coaching
Trust | Transparency | Empathy | Passion
email | LinkedIn
Optimism and Caution (But Mostly Optimism) For the Future of GenAI In Your Law Firm
You can’t swing a stick these days without seeing another article or discussion about ChatGPT and other generative artificial intelligence (genAI[1]) tools and how they are reshaping legal practice. The reality for many of us, though, is that we and our law firms...
Jul
07
07
Sandra Bang is the Founder and CEO of Sable Group, a bespoke coaching and people development consultancy, and a certified executive coach. She helps people and organizations gain clarity and achieve their professional and business goals by actively listening with empathy, reframing perspectives within context, and providing strategic guidance. With her candid and pragmatic approach, Sandra facilitates outcomes for clients that are impactful and beneficial, particularly in the areas of...
Apr
11
11
Author: Aisha Greene
Director of Attorney Development and Training
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
In 2020, the PDC formed a working group to discuss the DEI goals and initiatives of the organization. Since that time, the working group has developed into a permanent committee called the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Committee.
The PDC Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (“DEIB”) Committee is committed to working with the PDC Board and the...
Nov
29
29
Author: Brenna Glanville
Milbank
Manager of Professional Development
If year-end goal setting makes you think of gym discounts, fad diets, and flashy commercials, you are not alone. Despite its seemingly gimmicky cousin, making New Year’s resolutions, creating end-of-year goals is a uniquely beneficial activity worthy of your time. Below are my tips, as a former lawyer and now Manager of Professional Development, for creating meaningful end-of-year goals and for implementing...
Nov
07
07
By: Marcie Y. Davis
Assistant Dean, Office of Career Services
SMU Dedman School of Law
As the Assistant Dean of Career Services at SMU Dedman School of Law, part of my job is to counsel students and help them identify and achieve their career goals. I pride myself on my ability to offer sage advice that, if followed, is likely to result in employment – whether for the summer, semester, or post grad. ...
Oct
21
21
Will we see you at the 2022 PDI Conference?
The Professional Development Institute (PDI) Conference is a collaboration between the PDC, NALP, and ALI-CLE and registration is now open!
Taking place December 1-2 at the Conrad Hotel in Washington, DC (note the new location!), the conference is THE place to be for PD professionals. Whether you recently joined the PD community, or have been in the industry for years, you will leave the conference with timely, helpful information to...
Apr
26
26
by Jessie Spressart, Founder and Managing Director, Optia Consulting LLC
Do you know what a mastermind is? Simply put, a mastermind is a group of peers who gather to learn from each other, offer support and advice, and pool their collective wisdom to tackle challenges that its members face. If you stop and think about it, this sounds a lot like the broader purpose of the Professional Development Consortium! When I became a Trusted Advisor in late 2020, I proposed that the PDC...
Apr
19
19
By Kendra Brodin, CEO, EsquireWell
Well-Being Week in Law is coming up May 2-6, 2022! Is your organization ready?
According to the Institute for Well-Being in Law, Well-Being Week in Law aims “to raise awareness about mental health and encourage action and innovation across the profession to improve well-being.” During Well-Being Week in Law, law firms, law schools, and legal organizations highlight the importance of well-being through activities, events, resources, and more. ...
Mar
23
23
by Rachael Bosch, Managing Director and Founder of Fringe Professional Development
Like every business decision since the onset of COVID-19, workplace re-entry policies are forcing organizations to grapple with the very human experiences of their attorneys and business professionals. These decisions make the work of PD professionals messy and complicated. But it also provides excitement, as we get to play an essential role in helping define policies, drive implementation, and...
Feb
16
16
By Stacey Schwartz, Professional Development and Legal Recruiting Manager at Katten
Surely the vast majority of us have seen at least one episode of Friends. One of the episodes that makes me laugh the hardest includes the iconic scene where Ross buys a new couch and decides to carry it up to his apartment instead of paying a delivery fee. With the help of Rachel and Chandler, Ross tries to navigate the couch up the stairs, shouting “P-I-V-O-T!” frantically, as the three of them struggle to...
