PD Insider

Our first guest of 2022 is Ann Gomez, founder of the global training organization Clear Concept Inc. In her conversation with Craig Miller, Ann candidly explores the keys to leading successful hybrid teams ‒ building trust and connections, fostering engagement, the importance of autonomy, and meaningful work ‒ along with other useful insights.

This podcast is produced by PLI, the Practising Law Institute, for PLI's PD Center. For videos and other resources tailored to the professional development community, please visit https://www.pli.edu/PDCenter.

In this episode, PLI's Craig Miller speaks with H. Sandra Bang of Shearman and Melanie Priddy of Katten, co-chairs of PLI's webcast series Empowering Professional Development 2021: DEI in the Legal Industry.  Sandra and Melanie review the wide-ranging, in-depth content covered in the four-part series and share their perspectives and lessons learned from handling diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in Big Law, and how shifting perspectives on social justice and remote work will influence future conversations.

Jennifer Leonard, Chief Innovation Officer and Executive Director, Future of the Profession Initiative at University of Pennsylvania's Carey School of Law, sits down with Craig Miller for a wide-ranging conversation. In this episode, Jen delves into her cutting edge role at Penn Law, and how design thinking and prioritizing empathy can positively impact attorneys' performance and relationships within – and outside of – the firm. Her unique perspective makes this interview one of our most distinctive and insightful yet. 

This podcast is produced by PLI, the Practising Law Institute, for PLI's PD Center. For videos and other resources tailored to the professional development community, please visit https://www.pli.edu/PDCenter.

Meg Holman, Chief Talent Officer for Ogletree Deakins, sits down with Craig Miller for an in-depth conversation about the many considerations facing law firm management and other employers planning and implementing the return to office for their staff. Meg’s expert professional perspective grants helpful insights on what we’ve learned in the last year, and how we can use those insights to improve the legal industry. 

This podcast is produced by PLI, the Practising Law Institute, for PLI's PD Center. For videos and other resources tailored to the professional development community, please visit https://www.pli.edu/pdcenter

Jennifer Bluestein of Perkins Coie returns to PD Insider to discuss her strategies for maximizing mid-level associate performance, which is the focus of her latest book, Stepping It Up: A Guide for Mid-Level Law Firm Associates from PLI Press.  Jennifer helps shed light on the specific challenges mid-levels face and shares expert insights on how PDs can address these challenges to help the attorney and the firm thrive – especially as we pass the one-year anniversary of remote work for many law firm offices.

This podcast is produced by PLI, the Practising Law Institute, for PLI's PD Center. For videos and other resources tailored to the professional development community, please visit pli.edu/PDCenter.

Diane Costigan of Winston & Strawn and Don Smith of Crowell & Moring, unpack their approaches to maintaining and prioritizing wellness initiatives at law firms over the last year. 

This podcast is produced by PLI, the Practising Law Institute, for PLI's PD Center. For videos and other resources tailored to the professional development community, please visit pli.edu/PDCenter.

Kristen Uhl Hulse, of the Sturm College of Law, discusses the collaboration between law school faculty and legal employers to produce practice-ready graduates. Kristen also shares how her background in PD has informed her work with law students and employers, and her success in directing Sturm's innovative externship program.

This podcast is produced by PLI, the Practising Law Institute, for PLI's PD Center. For videos and other resources tailored to the professional development community, please visit pli.edu/PDCenter.

Dr. Sharon Meit Abrahams, of Legal Talent Advisors LLC, discusses best strategies for supporting and coaching under-performing partners. Using her extensive industry experience, she explores the complex ways of measuring partner performance and offers candid and actionable advice based on her own success with coaching at a wide range of top law firms.

This podcast is produced by PLI, the Practising Law Institute, for PLI's PD Center. For videos and other resources tailored to the professional development community, please visit pli.edu/PDCenter.

Andy Hales, Vice President of Development & Training at Venable LLP, discusses his unique position heading firm-wide training at Venable, and Venable’s successful use of a centralized professional development and training model. Andy also covers support networks the firm has adopted in response to the nationwide civil rights demonstrations.

This podcast is produced by PLI, the Practising Law Institute, for PLI's PD Center. For videos and other resources tailored to the professional development community, please visit pli.edu/PDCenter.

Jim Lovelace, Director of Talent Development at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, discusses maintaining consistent and compassionate leadership with a newly-displaced team. This discussion highlights the present-day challenges facing PD teams against the backdrop of COVID-19 and evergreen insights to enable successful coaching and management practices at your firm.

This podcast is produced by PLI, the Practising Law Institute, for PLI's PD Center. For videos and other resources tailored to the professional development community, please visit pli.edu/PDCenter.