The quality requirements imposed by our business mean that it is not sufficient simply to recruit the best young lawyers. Once they join us, we must offer high-quality skills development. This takes place through learning on the job as well as through special training opportunities.
All new associates undergo an Introductory Training Program aimed at providing a basic introduction to the firm's business, the lawyer’s role, and the expectations and demands imposed on Gernandt & Danielsson’s lawyers by clients, third parties, and colleagues.
The firm also has a three-year training plan for associates. The idea is that during the first three years all associates will receive as multifaceted experience and training as possible. The goal is that after the three-year period, the associate will feel prepared to handle even complex matters independently and will have sufficient references to substantiate his or her suitability when applying for admission to the Swedish Bar Association.
The final element in the training plan is that the associate is usually offered the opportunity for secondment for a longer period at one of the foreign law firms with which Gernandt & Danielsson cooperates, in London, New York, or the Nordic region.
Learning on the job is facilitated by the fact that the younger lawyer virtually always works in a team with partners and other senior colleagues, thereby leading to know-how and experience being passed on on a daily basis; this assists the younger lawyer in his or her growth in the role of an attorney.
With respect to special training opportunities, lawyers may participate in courses organised externally, but above all they participate in Gernandt & Danielsson’s in-house training, with outside instructors or our own instructors. The in-house training includes training for all lawyers at the firm as well as training specific to an individual practice group. The training we offer significantly exceeds the Swedish Bar Association's training requirement of 18 hours of professional continuing education per year. Training in substantive legal subjects often has a practical focus and is based on experience, i.e. senior colleagues at the firm or outside lecturers share not only knowledge on a certain issue, but their own experience as well. Great emphasis is also placed on practising other skills, such as leadership, negotiation technique, gaining clients, and business accounting.
Since much of our work takes place in English, young lawyers are offered English language training in very small groups in order to achieve maximum results.
There is a mentor system which enables follow-up on the three-year training program. All new associates are assigned two mentors: a partner and a senior associate. The training program is regularly followed up through discussions between the mentors and the young associate. More formal follow-up, in the form of a performance review, takes place annually.
Associate Ulrika Forsberg, KM Director, is responsible for lawyers' skills development.