Subscríbe
to our weekly newsletter

Your Name

Your eMail

published OCTOBER 29, 2009

Competency-based CareeRS™ to launch across the firm’s global offices

Reed Smith unveils comprehensive talent development programme

International law firm Reed Smith announced the launch of CareeRS™, a new competency-based programme focused on developing the talent of its personnel. CareeRS will be implemented across Reed Smith offices around the world, effective immediately. The first phase of the roll out will be delivered to associates and the second phase to support staff next year. The Reed Smith associate competency model covers four core areas legal skills, citizenship, business skills, and clients, with a focus on nine core competencies. Among other things, the core competencies address the mastery of key legal skills, support of the firm’s culture, demonstration of leadership and business skills, and most fundamentally, understanding and effectively managing client needs. Under the new programme, associates are no longer classified by year but by competency level (junior, mid-level or senior). The competency model provides a ‘roadmap’ detailing the specific skills required at each level. Eugene Tillman, Reed Smith’s Global Head of Legal Personnel, commented: “We believe CareeRS will be a great differentiator for Reed Smith that will resonate positively with our clients and our lawyers. We have shared the programme with some of our leading clients, and they have embraced its promise to deliver not just skilled lawyers, but well rounded professionals who understand their business and have the ability to look beyond the legal problems at hand.” Training and other development opportunities are already widely available firmwide through Reed Smith University, which currently offers in-house courses designed to enable the firm’s lawyers to expand and extend their knowledge and skills. Associates also have a range of other development opportunities through pro bono work, participation in client and intra firm secondments, online resources, and mentoring and coaching, among others. CareeRS will expand the training and development options with courses and other training opportunities mapped to the nine core competencies, and it will also include three “academies,” one for each associate level. Nicky Dingemans, Reed Smith’s Global Chief People Officer, commented: “We believe CareeRS holds the key to reduced associate attrition and higher client satisfaction. We see Reed Smith as driving an enhanced culture of talent development and expanding the opportunities for our associates to grow as lawyers and to become well-rounded leaders and managers through cutting edge programmes like CareeRS.” Greg Jordan, Reed Smith’s Global Managing Partner, added: “Clients demand and deserve the best quality legal talent, firms require highly-skilled lawyers to compete successfully in today’s global markets, and associates expect meaningful opportunities to expand their knowledge and develop their skills. CareeRS meets all of these needs and expectations in a comprehensive way.”