Making Professional Skills More Accessible

Corporate clients are increasingly seeking new models of legal service delivery—often shifting work away from BigLaw to mid-size or smaller firms that promise greater efficiency and value. But these smaller firms face a critical disadvantage: Many times they do not have the resources to build the kind of robust professional development programs that BigLaw has long relied on to cultivate and retain top-tier legal talent. 

Access to high-quality, legal-specific training has traditionally been a privilege largely reserved for associates and partners at larger firms with substantial budgets. Expanding access to this kind of professional development allows smaller firms to level the playing field—ensuring that corporate clients, and ultimately the public, benefit from more competent, well-trained lawyers. Broadening the reach of legal training is essential to achieving this goal. Today’s environment—which includes rising legal costs, a widening acceptance of new delivery models, and rapid advancements in technology—presents smaller firms with an opportunity to grow. Realizing that opportunity requires professional development programs that upskill their teams and enhance productivity. 

Narrowing the access to justice gap also depends on more skilled lawyers from firms of every size—not only those at major firms with the resources to fund extensive pro bono programs. According to the World Justice Project, economic levels play a significant role in the lack of access to justice: low-income Americans did not receive any or enough legal help for more than 90% of their civil legal problems that affected them “substantially.” That compares to 78% for higher-income Americans—still an insufficient number. When attorneys across the spectrum receive more and better professional development, they are better equipped to serve others. 

However, smaller law firms face a catch-22. More business becomes available to them if they can compete and scale to match larger firms—firms with entire departments devoted to marketing, business development, and client success. Doing so requires lawyers who are not only excellent practitioners but also adept at maximizing productivity and optimizing client experience. The skills most critical to differentiation—project management, communication, collaboration, and effective use of technology—are rarely taught in law school. Yet it is precisely these capabilities that enable firms to fully leverage technology and drive scalable growth. 

Providing lawyers with legal-specific training in these areas is key to expanding access to meaningful professional development. The legal-specific aspect is not to be overlooked: lawyers think and work differently from professionals in other industries, and they need instruction that reflects how they operate. Any firm seeking to grow must build or improve access to the right kind of training. Off-the-shelf corporate training programs rarely resonate with lawyers and often fail to help them apply technology in ways that truly benefit clients. Training that lawyers find relevant is a crucial first step toward ensuring more of them gain and apply new skills. 

So, why focus on expanding access to legal and professional skills now? Simply put, the demand for legal services far exceeds the supply of BigLaw attorneys who currently enjoy comprehensive professional development programs. Corporate clients are managing heavier workloads under greater cost pressures, while the Access to Justice movement continues to struggle without enough well-trained lawyers. 

Training that enhances productivity allows each lawyer to serve more clients and take on more work. Training that emphasizes collaboration and rightsourcing equips firms of all sizes to deliver better client experiences. Whether it’s smaller firms looking to capture new corporate opportunities or individual lawyers aiming to distinguish themselves in a crowded marketplace, access to practical, high-quality training in the skills not taught in law school is the key to sustained success.