From Law School to Law Firm: West LegalEdcenter Launches Beyond the Bar to Help New Attorneys Make a Smooth Transition

Eagan, Minn. September 30, 2010 – West LegalEdcenter today announced the launch of Beyond the Bar, a series of interactive workshops that pick up from where law school left off and help new lawyers gain the practical skills, knowledge and tools necessary to successfully transition to practicing law.

Developed in response to numerous critical studies and reports on the lack of preparedness to practice among recent law school graduates, Beyond the Bar offers freshly minted lawyers the opportunity to accelerate their practical skill development, be more productive for their employers and ultimately become more successful in a competitive world of practicing law.

Expert faculty with real-world practice experience will lead these live interactive workshops covering a range of business skills, legal skills and client-relations philosophies. The roster includes Kenneth A. Adams, Professor Charlie Craver, Professor Christy DeSanctis, Ross Fishman, Alan Gutterman, Dr. Paul Lisnek, Professor Mark Osbeck, Professor Charlie Rose and Sara Taylor. New lawyers can use their new skills in their practice immediately and continue their professional development after the workshop through online courses and virtual collaboration.

“The Beyond the Bar workshops are a big step above traditional bridge-the-gap or transitional education programs,” said Lee Ann Enquist, vice president, West Professional Development. “The program allows new lawyers to become more productive and efficient from the beginning of their careers, helping them stand out in a competitive marketplace.”

"The demand for Beyond the Bar isn't just coming from law firms - the students I teach are clamoring for this type of training," said Charles B. Craver, the Freda H. Alverson professor of law at George Washington University Law School and a Beyond the Bar faculty member. "New lawyers want to work hard for their firms and their clients, and the Beyond the Bar program will help to provide them with a richer experience and more job satisfaction from early in their careers."

This intensive, practical training program includes the following workshops:

• Advanced Legal Writing and Techniques in Persuasion
• Becoming a Business Counselor: A Path for New Business Associates
• Becoming an Impeccable Legal Researcher
• Client Service and Practice Development: Becoming an Effective Rainmaker and Successful Lawyer
• Drafting Clearer Contracts: The Essentials of Clear, Concise and Modern Drafting
• Effective Legal Negotiation
• Fundamental Pretrial Advocacy: A Strategic Guide to Pretrial Litigation
• Interpersonal Relations + Influence = Effective Leadership for Lawyers
• The Power of Effective Communication In and Out of the Courtroom

These workshops go beyond the lecture, providing participants with case studies, exercises, demonstrations, moderated discussions and practice examples. In addition to the live courses, participants will gain access to online programs to continue their professional development. Beyond the Bar also offers networking opportunities with other new attorneys and the subject-matter experts who are presenting the workshops.

These workshops will be offered intermittently during a seven-month period beginning in November in New York; Washington, D.C.; and Chicago. Associates and law firms may choose to purchase individual or multiple workshops that fit their learning needs. CLE credit is available. For more information, visit http://beyondthebar.westlegaledcenter.com.

Editor’s Note: A promotional video for Beyond the Bar is available on YouTube at http://bit.ly/beyondthebar.

West LegalEdcenter

The cost-effective source for online and in-person legal training and CLE, West LegalEdcenter keeps attorneys up to date on the law and compliant with state requirements. Find everything you need to manage continuing education and professional development in law firms and legal departments – live conferences and seminars around the nation, more than 7,000 online courses, compliance tracking, learning management, and full integration with in-house training. Taught by the most prestigious names in the legal field, West LegalEdcenter covers both the core substance of law as well as hot topics in every practice area. For more information, visit http://www.westlegaledcenter.com.

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