Why Is It So Hard to Train Lawyers?
Training is an ongoing necessity for lawyers, encompassing CLE/CPD requirements, state and local ordinances, and updates in laws and regulations. Additionally, training this group presents unique challenges, which we'll explore in just a moment.
First, why should law firms and lawyers invest in training beyond simply meeting mandatory requirements?? It turns out professional development for lawyers is critical to job satisfaction. According to a recent Practice Modernization Field Study (also known as Modernize Legal), most associates (71%) are dissatisfied with the training they receive from their law firms, while only 4% are very satisfied. Associates who are highly satisfied with their training are much more likely to recommend their firm to friends or potential clients. The survey found that 84% of those who gave their training a satisfaction score of 5/5 say they are “likely to recommend your firm to a friend looking for a job,” which is an extremely positive Net Promoter Score or “NPS” (a loyalty and satisfaction measurement). However, when the score dips to a 4/5, the NPS score plummets to an 11.
Investing in quality training presents a valuable opportunity for law firms to enhance their ongoing business and support the professional growth of their people. And when firms don’t provide quality training around critical areas such as the business of law, generative AI, mentoring, business development, and performance evaluations, lawyers miss out on the chance to find more professional and personal satisfaction and success.
To develop training that truly resonates with lawyers, firms must first understand the unique challenges involved in training them effectively. These include:
The Demands on Lawyers’ Time
The billable hour is one significant reason that training lawyers is often challenging. Lawyers know what their time is worth, and they know they can miss out on client work when they spend time on non-billable work.
Increasing client expectations and tighter timelines make it challenging for lawyers to find time for training, even when they want to participate. In today’s world of instantaneous communication through phone calls, texts, Teams messages, and Zoom, lawyers often feel perpetually on call.
Their High Standards and Higher Intellects
Lawyers have also been through years and years of rigorous education in law school, so they have high standards and don’t want to sit through generic training modules or long, static lectures that are a chore to complete. Even if lawyers do take these types of trainings, they won’t get much out of them.
Lawyers are also highly intelligent, or they wouldn’t have succeeded in a notoriously difficult field. That's why they need training that respects their intelligence, offers interactivity to maintain their attention, and includes compelling, relevant content to ensure it is actionable and impactful.
Law Firm Economics
Law firms often face challenges in delivering quality training to their busy lawyers, who may be geographically dispersed. While it might seem logical to have firm subject matter experts provide instruction on specific topics, creating these programs in-house demands a significant time commitment, pulling fee-earners away from their billable work.
With many of today’s lawyers working from home at least part of the time, delivering consistent in-person training across offices has become challenging. This shift complicates the traditional model that law firms have relied on for decades.
In short, law firms need to demonstrate that the time – and money – spent on training is worth the investment. That includes delivering content geared towards lawyers and the skills they need to succeed, in interactive, informative ways that work with their schedules.
The SkillBurst Approach
To address the many challenges highlighted above, law firms must invest in high-quality, tailored training programs that meet the specific needs of their lawyers, ensuring both professional development and job satisfaction.
Off-the-shelf learning resources often lack the depth and relevance required to engage lawyers effectively. These generic programs fail to address the unique demands of legal practice and the intellectual rigor that lawyers expect.
That’s where we come in. SkillBurst Interactive has built an international reputation for delivering customized, high-quality training solutions specifically designed for law firms. Our programs are crafted to meet the unique needs of legal professionals, providing intellectually stimulating and relevant content that engages lawyers and enhances their skills. By focusing on the specific demands of the legal industry and leveraging our expertise in on-demand, digital learning, we ensure that our training programs not only fit seamlessly into busy schedules but also foster continuous improvement. With SkillBurst Interactive, law firms can move beyond generic off-the-shelf resources to achieve impactful, effective training outcomes.
Want to learn more about how to elevate your firm’s training strategy? Reach out to info@skillburst.com.
