New Group Paves the Way for Transformative Professional Legal Education
DALLAS — May 2, 2025 — BARBRI, a global leader in legal education, today announced the launch of its BARBRI Professional Education Advisory Board, a pioneering initiative dedicated to shaping the future of legal skills training for lawyers and legal professionals. Led by a renowned team of industry experts, this initiative will anticipate and address emerging challenges in legal education, equipping professionals and the people tasked with providing the resources to develop their careers with access to essential skills for the modern legal environment.
The board will be chaired by Ari Kaplan of Ari Kaplan Advisors, a seasoned industry analyst and leader in the legal profession, whose vision for accessible, dynamic learning will drive the group’s mission. Board members represent a global perspective from several different types of organizations. The board also includes professionals at various stages in their careers to ensure a wide range of viewpoints.
Members include:
- Derrick Anderson II, Associate, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
- Erin Felker Bond, Associate Dean for Academic Planning and Career Development, New York Law School
- Nick Clayson, General Counsel, Rocco Forte Hotels
- Bill Cocolis, Director of Talent Management, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
- Carrie Fletcher, Head of Faculty, O Shaped
- Jasmine B. Gratton, LL.M., New York Lawyer, England & Wales Solicitor
- Jagdip Panesar, Global Head of Learning & Leadership Development, Clifford Chance
- Kathryn Lippert Rousin, former Global Director of Learning, White & Case LLP
- Don Smith, Chief Talent & Inclusion Officer, Crowell & Moring
As part of its mandate, the advisory board will advise BARBRI Professional Education on the creation of new, targeted learning content and technology-enabled modalities to improve learning outcomes and practical application in real-world scenarios.
“We’re excited to launch the BARBRI Advisory Board with such an exceptional and multifaceted team dedicated to shaping the future of legal education and ongoing legal professional development,” said Lucie Allen, chief growth officer and managing director of BARBRI.
“This initiative allows us to harness expertise and technology to provide training solutions that are as innovative as they are essential and that will help the legal profession realize its vision for the future.”
Through the formation of the BARBRI Professional Education Advisory Board; the recent acquisition of SkillBurst Interactive, a recognized leader in interactive digital learning; and the appointment of Jim Lonero as Managing Director for Professional Education, BARBRI continues to reaffirm its dedication to meeting the evolving needs of legal professionals and organizations worldwide.
“The legal landscape is changing dramatically, and today’s lawyers need to be more than just excellent practitioners–they need to be innovative thinkers, excellent communicators, technologists, and true partners with their clients,” said Kaplan. “This stellar group is dedicated to helping lawyers achieve personal and professional success, and I’m honored to be part of it.”
For more information on the members of the BARBRI Professional Education Advisory Board, click here.
About BARBRI
BARBRI is the global leader and largest provider of tech-enabled legal learning solutions for law students, law schools, universities, professionals, law firms, and organizations.
BARBRI has been the number one brand in legal education for over 50 years and has forged a trusted relationship with more than 1.5 million legal professionals around the world. BARBRI's ongoing commitment to innovation in technology, learning science, and expert content and curriculum — developed by renowned experts — empowers global legal learners at every step of their career journey. From helping aspiring lawyers prepare for the LSAT and succeed in law school, to delivering effective U.S. Bar and SQE preparation courses and a lifetime of legal education through professional development courses, BARBRI's exceptional resources, data insights, and personalized support help legal learners, law schools and organizations achieve their goals and provide excellent learner outcomes.
BARBRI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with offices in the United States and United Kingdom.
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