Following a strong showing earlier this year, the BBA’s Practical Skills Committee has again prepared an impressive menu of programs aimed at introducing new lawyers to topics that are not often taught in law school. Led by new Co-Chairs Jennifer Charles of Proskauer Rose and Steve Couch of Desmond Strang & Scott, the committee looks to capitalize on its initial success — last year’s programs averaged 60 registered guests per program.
“The Practical Skills Committee is on a roll after a great inaugural year,” said Couch. “The Committee attracted a lot of new members and with those new faces came new ideas and enthusiasm as we work to put forward another package of outstanding programming for new lawyers. As the broader BBA community learns more about our work, we have found that the crucial support we receive from the prominent members of the bar who serve as Practical Skills panelists continues to grow as well.”
Programming consists of 1-2 hour panel presentations, limited in scope to help new lawyers develop basic and advanced skills on focused topics. The Committee teams up with other BBA sections for advice, resources and access to panelists that are experts in their respective fields. Upcoming programs include Expert Use of Experts on 11/17, Basics of Intellectual Property on 12/8, Discovery Motion Practice: Strategy and Success on 12/14 and The “Art” of Cross-Examination on 1/26.
“This year, the Practical Skills Committee is focusing its efforts on ensuring that its programs cover as many practice areas as possible,” said Charles. “The Committee’s main goal is to provide new lawyers with a comprehensive knowledge of the basics in fields as diverse as intellectual property, criminal litigation, private equity and others. We hope that new lawyers will continue to embrace these programs as we move forward and build upon our past successes.”
For more information on the New Lawyers Practical Skills Series, contact Patricia Johnson at pjohnson@bostonbar.org or 617-778-1918.
