Jason DePrince’s Post

The Importance of Continuous Learning for Law Firm Growth: Insights from Successful Businesses In an ever-evolving legal landscape, the importance of continuous learning cannot be overstated. For law firms aiming to foster growth, adaptability, and a competitive edge, investing in ongoing professional development is essential. Not only does it equip attorneys with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate complex legal challenges, but it also enhances the firm’s overall effectiveness and client satisfaction. A business coach can play a vital role in facilitating this growth journey, guiding firms in their continuous learning initiatives. For the full article, click on the link below. https://lnkd.in/exxRqGVP #TransformationTuesday #LawFirmGrowth #BusinessCoaching #ContinuousLearning

How to talk to clients - Sometimes, it’s difficult to explain to clients that legal proceedings are compartmentalised and each stage only allows assessment of the available material in a particular context. Many clients make the mistake of assuming that all hearings are meant for elaborate arguments or assessments about culpability, proof etc. That is, unfortunately, not how it works. It’s upto the lawyer to put things into perspective. It can prove difficult because when you try to explain this compartmentalisation, a short conversation can soon unintentionally stretch to cover complex jurisprudential aspects of the law that are not easy to grasp. A lawyer who finds himself in such a situation may struggle to explain things when the reason for each statement is intertwined with some law, precedent or practice that one would typically understand only if one has a foundational knowledge of legal matters. In such situations, lawyers who are unable to satisfy client queries often lose the client. There is a certain tact that one must develop to deal with clients that allows one to answer questions without complicating the answer. There is also an element of expectation management involved in such scenarios. You never want your clients to be misled. At the same time, being clear about litigation timelines, expected outcomes, costs, sensible strategies, settlement options etc. is also important. Law schools can’t teach you this. If you are a first gen lawyer, you end up learning through experimentation and mistakes. That learning is extremely valuable but comes at a heavy price. Many firms/chambers don’t have the time to teach their associates this stuff either because client counselling typically falls on the business side of things while the associate often only engages strictly with legal matters. However, when it is time for the associate to practice independently or when they aspire to become partners/team leaders, they often notice that these essential skills are lacking in them. By that time, it is a little too late to start learning. Might build a paid course on this. I think many first gen lawyers may benefit from learning what I've discovered about client counselling in the last 10 years. #law

🧠 The Minds of Lawyers and Businesspeople: A Continuous Cycle of Thinking, Learning, and Applying 🧠 One might think that the professions of law and business are worlds apart. However, they share a significant similarity that drives success in both fields: the inability to keep their minds empty. 🔹 Constantly Thinking: Both lawyers and businesspeople are always strategizing. For lawyers, it’s about developing the best legal strategies to advocate for their clients. For businesspeople, it’s about crafting business strategies to drive growth and overcome challenges. In both fields, this constant thinking ensures preparedness and agility. 🔹 Continuous Learning: The world changes rapidly, and so do laws and market conditions. Lawyers must stay updated with new laws, regulations, and legal precedents. Businesspeople must keep up with market trends, consumer behavior, and technological advancements. This dedication to lifelong learning is crucial for staying relevant and effective. 🔹 Applying Ideas and Solutions: The true measure of success in both professions is the ability to turn thoughts and learning into actionable plans. Lawyers apply their legal knowledge to build solid cases, negotiate deals, and solve complex legal issues. Businesspeople implement innovative ideas to launch new products, optimize operations, and achieve business goals. In essence, both lawyers and businesspeople live in a world of constant mental engagement. Their ability to think critically, learn continuously, and apply practical solutions is what sets them apart and drives their success. Here's to the relentless thinkers and doers in both fields! 🚀 #Law #Business #ContinuousLearning #StrategicThinking #ProfessionalDevelopment

Here's my 2024 LinkedIn Rewind, by Coauthor: Training lawyers isn't just about legal updates - it's about building a culture where learning feels as natural as breathing. 2024 showed us that when you make learning accessible and engaging, even the busiest lawyers find time to grow. 💡 Key initiatives that transformed our learning landscape: • Law in 30: Monthly legal updates in 30-minute focused sessions • The Argumentative Associate: Monthly mock negotiations and mock trials building practical skills • Practice Area Deep Dives: Structured learning paths for specialized Practices • Cross-border Knowledge Exchange: Learning from global deals and diverse perspectives What worked best? Meeting lawyers where there are: - Bite-sized learning sessions - Practical case studies - Peer-led knowledge sharing - Technology-enabled accessibility Three posts that resonated most with our community: "Creating a thriving culture of learning in law firms" Because growth and innovation should be the norm, not the exception. https://lnkd.in/gqAkbKDp "Law in 30 | Monthly Legal Updates" Making continuous learning manageable for busy lawyers https://lnkd.in/gqxsH5db "The Case Study Method isn't for law schools alone" Bringing practical learning into everyday legal practice https://lnkd.in/g8b3Bh_d Looking to 2025: Scaling our learning initiatives while keeping them practical and impactful. Because every lawyer deserves training that's both meaningful and manageable. To every lawyer balancing billable hours with professional growth: Your development matters. Let's make it work for you. #learninganddevelopment #lawfirmtraining #LegalEducation #LinkedInRewind #2024wrapped

Investing in staff training is key to the success of your law firm. Here are three essential steps to ensure your training programs are effective: ⏰ Identify Training Needs: Conduct a skills gap analysis to determine what areas need improvement and tailor your training programs accordingly. ⏰ Interactive Learning: Incorporate hands-on activities, role-playing, and real-world scenarios to make learning more engaging and practical. ⏰ Follow-Up & Feedback: After training, provide opportunities for feedback and continuous learning to reinforce new skills and knowledge. By focusing on these steps, you’ll build a more competent and confident team. #StaffTraining #LegalExcellence #ProfessionalDevelopment #legal #law #legalconsulting #legalprofessionals #trainingtips

Senior associates and partners from law firms come to me because they’re underserved. (Yes big law firms too) « We have LinkedIn training but it’s too generic and there is not much support » We often talk about the importance of skills in the legal industry. As to how important a skill is. My simple guess is, the « worth » of a skill is commensurate to the value it brings to a market. By this logic, law firms should be jumping at empowering lawyers with skills that bring clients along and make them more money So why is it that these skills seem completely looked down on / overlooked? I’ve spoken to lawyers from many firms now so it definitely isn’t an isolated issue. How can law firms expect a ROI on generic training in the likes of « have a professional picture  » ? I taught one partner how to use LinkedIn to attract clients. A few months later she had 50 prospects in her database and $60K of paid work generated for the firm. How much is that skill worth now? $60K and counting. But she took it on herself to not only self-finance, but self-train. Because the firm didn’t just lack the infrastructure. They were not willing to support a training that would have brought a 10x return in 6 months. What am I missing here? 📌 PS: by training I mean proper training that delivers tangible outcomes and transformation. Not a half day workshop to tick a box ✔️

"The Law Practice Program (LPP) at the Toronto Metropolitan University is the first of its kind in Ontario. It’s an innovative alternative to traditional articling through a rigorous and demanding eight-month program combining on-line training and experiential learning with a hands-on work term. TMU works with the Law Society of Upper Canada and the legal community, including a strategic alliance with the Ontario Bar Association, to deliver a dynamic program that prepares Law School graduates to succeed in their legal practice and careers." Info: https://lpp.torontomu.ca/

For far too long, law firms have been tackling the wrong problems. High-cost, transactional training and broken feedback systems – coupled with a business model that’s focused on the utility of each and every billable hour – have created cultures where lawyers work hard and detach. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Enter peer advisory coaching. Enter Pearl Legal Advisory, our latest initiative designed specifically with law firms in mind. This evergreen, human-led professional development program – tailored specifically to the demands of large law firms – allows attorneys at all levels to solve problems around communication, failures, feedback, business development, difficult conversations, executive presence and managing the difficulties of a personal life in the midst of building a career. Our mission is to radically change law firm culture and retention through a disruptive learning model that begins with a series of bespoke small group peer advisory training sessions and then teaches clients to sustain those groups in perpetuity. Contact us to learn more.

"The Law Practice Program (LPP) at the Toronto Metropolitan University is the first of its kind in Ontario. It’s an innovative alternative to traditional articling through a rigorous and demanding eight-month program combining on-line training and experiential learning with a hands-on work term. TMU works with the Law Society of Upper Canada and the legal community, including a strategic alliance with the Ontario Bar Association, to deliver a dynamic program that prepares Law School graduates to succeed in their legal practice and careers." Info: https://lpp.torontomu.ca/ https://lnkd.in/gqG3FPns

"The Law Practice Program (LPP) at the Toronto Metropolitan University is the first of its kind in Ontario. It’s an innovative alternative to traditional articling through a rigorous and demanding eight-month program combining on-line training and experiential learning with a hands-on work term. TMU works with the Law Society of Upper Canada and the legal community, including a strategic alliance with the Ontario Bar Association, to deliver a dynamic program that prepares Law School graduates to succeed in their legal practice and careers." Info: https://lpp.torontomu.ca/