Debevoise & Plimpton has announced the launch of a mini-MBA pilot scheme for first year associates in its London and New York offices.
The mini-MBA will pull Debevoise first years away from late nights at the photo copying machine, and plonk them back into the class room for four weeks of training. Provided by The Fullbridge Programme, which is led by senior Harvard lecturer Peter Olson, the aim is to teach lawyers how to be more business minded. And if successful the programme will be rolled out in each of Debevoise's eight offices from next year, according to a Legal Week report.
Debevoise is not the first law firm to dabble with MBAs. HogLove legacy firm Lovells was a pioneer, teaming up with Cass Business School in 2006 to offer the first MBA for lawyers. More recently, Simmons offered its deferring trainees £15k to take a "dedicated legal" MBA back in the credit crunch misery of 2009, and last year Eversheds launched a bespoke MBA course for its junior associates
Michael Gillespie, who has the exciting job title of Head of the Talent and Steering Committee at Debevoise, enthused that the purpose of the programme "is to ensure that our lawyers are effective and efficient in solving our clients' business problems". And while the real world value of a law firm mini-MBA may be questionable, it certainly helps Debevoise stand out from its competitors.
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The mini-MBA will pull Debevoise first years away from late nights at the photo copying machine, and plonk them back into the class room for four weeks of training. Provided by The Fullbridge Programme, which is led by senior Harvard lecturer Peter Olson, the aim is to teach lawyers how to be more business minded. And if successful the programme will be rolled out in each of Debevoise's eight offices from next year, according to a Legal Week report.
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Debevoise associates learning how to touch base and give 110% yesterday |
Debevoise is not the first law firm to dabble with MBAs. HogLove legacy firm Lovells was a pioneer, teaming up with Cass Business School in 2006 to offer the first MBA for lawyers. More recently, Simmons offered its deferring trainees £15k to take a "dedicated legal" MBA back in the credit crunch misery of 2009, and last year Eversheds launched a bespoke MBA course for its junior associates
Michael Gillespie, who has the exciting job title of Head of the Talent and Steering Committee at Debevoise, enthused that the purpose of the programme "is to ensure that our lawyers are effective and efficient in solving our clients' business problems". And while the real world value of a law firm mini-MBA may be questionable, it certainly helps Debevoise stand out from its competitors.