Program Planning >
Introduction
An Opportunity for the Firm to Assess Where it Stands Today and Develop its Plans for Tomorrow.
A properly planned and executed Firm Retreat can bring your firm closer together and energize its lawyers to act. As you begin planning for the Retreat, you should give careful consideration to the following issues:
- Define Your Objectives
- Create Your Agenda
- Determine Who Attends
Define Your Objectives
It’s best to structure your Firm Retreat with clearly defined objectives in mind. Examples include building collegiality and camaraderie, integrating a newly acquired office or practice group into the firm, selling new initiatives to the partnership, or establishing firm-wide strategic objectives. With your objectives set, you can then create a powerful agenda and coordinate presentations accordingly.
Create Your Agenda
You should then develop the agenda to support the Retreat’s goals and objectives. Keep in mind the following possibilities:
- Attorney and client panels
- Outside speakers
- CLE credit
- Breakout sessions and discussion groups
- Team-building exercises
- Retreat theme
- Social activities
- Audio-visual and technology support
- Handouts and program materials
Determine Who Attends
Who attends your Firm Retreat will be determined by the Retreat’s objectives and agenda. For example, if the Retreat’s primary purpose is to gain buy-in for a new strategic direction, partners only might be appropriate. If, however, the primary purpose is relationship building, the firm might include associates and senior staff. More and more firms are inviting clients, recruits and alumni to their Firm Retreats.
Consider whether it’s best to include partners only or all attorneys and senior staff. Another big consideration is where or not to include spouses and significant other.
If you think through these important considerations at the outset of your planning, you are much more likely to present a successful program.
Program Planning
