Training and education: The learning curve

It is a truism that lawyers are the ultimate knowledge workers. In maintaining that position the depth and, importantly, the currency, of a lawyer's understanding form the knowledge bedrock on which their practice is built. However, how lawyers learn and what they learn is changing. Externally, in-house counsel and the organisations that employ them are reviewing their roles.A recent review of training needs shows the pressure on in-housecounsel - as a result of the recent economic upheavals and subsequent corporate insolvencies - to take a wider role as an active risk manager, who is also expected to be the guardian of a company's ethics and its reputation. Where this results in a seat on the main board, the role is no longer that of the traditional detached and reactive legal adviser.

March 18, 2009 at 10:10 PM

5 minute read

As the legal profession changes, so the training and education required evolves. Josh Bottomley and Rob Farquharson report 5aad13bb-a68b-4e77-b556-4f6cc7e52090

However, how lawyers learn and what they learn is changing. Externally, in-house counsel and the organisations that employ them are reviewing their roles.A recent review of training needs shows the pressure on in-housecounsel – as a result of the recent economic upheavals and subsequent corporate insolvencies – to take a wider role as an active risk manager, who is also expected to be the guardian of a company's ethics and its reputation. Where this results in a seat on the main board, the role is no longer that of the traditional detached and reactive legal adviser.

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