DLA Piper [Rudnick Gray Cary?—I’m quite confident they shortened
the name, but their website doesn’t
reflect it] is partnering with
Harvard Business School to launch what is to my knowledge the second-of-its-kind
lawyer "executive education" program.
The original, and first-of-its-kind, as faithful readers recall, is
"Reed
Smith University," in conjunction with the Wharton School. Reed
Smith’s still sounds to be the more ambitious, comprising five "schools"
(law, leadership, business development, technology, and professional
support) and a mandate to support and enhance the professional development
of lawyers, business-side people, and support staff as well. DLA
Piper’s venture is more "focused" (yes, I’m being kind), and is geared
to "issues relevant to the firm’s partners;" they plan to enroll
about 50 partners a year in the one-week course.
Not to be hard
on DLA Piper—this
still qualifies as a surpassing fit of forward-thinking here in law-firm
land—but my fond hope is that I’ll soon be in a position to report
that they have extended this savvy and beneficent effort down the ladder.
Which firm will be #3? The betting window is open.
