The Case for Lifelong Learning to Advance and Extend a Legal Career

In 2023, 27 bills became U.S. laws, ranging from veterans affairs and the criminal code to COVID and organ transplantation. That represents only a fraction of the laws and range of issues that legal practitioners and scholars need to understand to remain competent and competitive. The criticality of lifelong learning in the legal industry and beyond is intensified by several macro trends: rapidly changing technology and global business models, shorter career stints that result in job hopping or vocation changing every few years, and longer life expectancies that extend careers beyond 40 years.

As noted in Bloomberg Law, it’s essential for lawyers progressing through their careers to “have a mindset of continual growth and adaptability so they can learn, adjust, and embrace new challenges.” This is not surprising considering The Economist reports that lifelong learning is becoming an “economic imperative,” and Pew Charitable Trusts indicates that it’s the “new normal.”

So, whether you are considering a legal conference, classroom or online instruction, a massively open online course, or another learning method, there is no better time than now to re-skill. Here are a few approaches to help keep you compliant, relevant, and competitive.

Creating a Talent Strategy

As human resource functions in legal and other settings evolve from traditional service models to more strategic ones, some law firms are following suit and shifting from tactical CLE to more sophisticated ways of training and developing their teams. Law.com reports that law firms have historically focused on the career development of associates along partner tracks, but now there is more demand for “deliberate staff-side talent strategy.”

Professional development expert Katie Aldrich notes that a legal talent strategy involves much more than individual courses or credits and should consider the district phases of a career continuum. For example, for associates, it’s about mastering the basics, soaking it all in, and proving that you can handle the core elements of legal work. For mid-career legal professionals, you transition from being an individual contributor to managing delegated tasks and small teams. As you grow in seniority, the focus transitions from day-to-day management to the big picture, taking on multiple roles such as strategist, motivator, mentor, and business leader.

Another opportunity for more seasoned legal minds is delving into the business side of their profession to market and/or expand their practice. The Wharton School, for example, offers an executive MBA program designed specifically for lawyers, although there are many factors to weigh before pursuing an MBA. Securing an executive coach to assist with leadership and management skills is another pro tip for legal veterans.

Maintaining Compliance

The most basic aspect of professional development is staying current and up to date in your industry. A certain number of CLE credits per year is mandatory for attorneys to maintain their licenses and practice law in almost every state but varies by state and jurisdiction. Regionally, the West tends to have more rigorous requirements, and the states of Washington, Oregon, and Colorado demand 45 credit hours, which can be challenging to achieve while balancing a busy portfolio.

As we know, ethics lie at the heart of the legal profession. Attorneys are bound by a code of professional conduct that demands integrity, diligence, and commitment to justice. CLE programs often include modules on legal ethics, ensuring attorneys remain cognizant of their ethical obligations and adept at navigating ethical dilemmas. By staying informed about ethical standards and evolving jurisprudence surrounding legal ethics, attorneys uphold the integrity of the profession and safeguard client trust.

As another example, 40 state bar associations have adopted a of Duty of Technical Duty Competence, which requires attorneys to be proficient in using technology, the business of law, health and wellness, and interpersonal skills.  And, in 2018, most U.S. states began to mandate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) continuing education components for attorneys. The Federal Bar Association offers a strong on-demand course titled “Elimination of Bias: Cultivating Diversity and Inclusion in the Legal Field.”

Creating a Competitive Edge

In addition to DEI, legal professionals are now expected to become increasingly conversant in many current and emerging societal, political, and technological trends, including:

• Cybersecurity
• Data management and data privacy law
• Blockchain and cryptocurrency
• Telemedicine
• Environmental law
• Space law
• Cannabis law
• AI

Seeking out professional development creates new opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and networking. And gaining new, highly coveted knowledge has benefits to the individual learner, to their firm or organization, and to the constituencies they serve. For firms, it creates a distinctive competitive advantage in attracting and growing new business.

Adaptability Is the Name of the Game—And So Is AI

Part of being an agile legal professional means learning and embracing tech effectively. While some may fear that artificial intelligence will cause layoffs or upend traditional career paths, some law firms and legal experts see AI as a significant efficiency tool. For example, a couple of notable use cases for AI involve eDiscovery in litigation and due diligence in M&A work. These tasks are major time savers for junior associates and, as a result, attorneys can then spend their time focused on more strategic matters—such as their judgment—and less time on research or administrative volume.

AI and machine learning are also being incorporated into some continuing education programs, as tech-infused courses and digital delivery modalities become more and more attractive to newer generations of learners.

So Keep Learning

Continuing legal education is not merely a professional obligation; it is a strategic imperative for attorneys committed to excellence, integrity, innovation, and client service. As President John F. Kennedy once said, ““Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”