Professional Development

Our core skills curriculum focuses on the skills necessary to excel as a junior associate. Topics covered include personal growth and management, firm operations, and the foundation of client development and executive presence.

We offer a three-day intensive workshop for senior associates that focuses on four core fundamentals: individual leadership; diversity, equity, and inclusion; financial acumen; and client service. Participants are challenged and encouraged to think about themselves as leaders and to fully understand the strategic vision of Husch Blackwell. Participants also have the benefit of completing the Gallup Strengths Assessment and spending time with a Certified Gallup Strengths Coach©.

New Partner Orientation is an opportunity for newly elected and lateral fixed income partners to gather with firm leadership and gain an understanding of the changes in benefits, compensation, and expectations for partners. All new partners are invited to attend Husch Blackwell University immediately following their election to partnership.

Husch Blackwell University is an intensive professional development program designed to provide junior partners and junior senior counsel with the skills required to advance their legal careers. The program is designed around Husch Blackwell’s core values: clients; people; and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Cohorts come together a couple times a year in cities across our footprint to participate in multiday expert-led modules that cover law firm economics and strategy, client relationships, and leadership development.

HB In-House is a one-of-its-kind professional development program aimed at helping attorneys gain an intimate understanding of in-house roles, enhancing the firm’s ability to cater more effectively to its clients, and providing career development opportunities for attorneys who are interested in transitioning to corporate counsel roles. Launching for the first time in 2024, the curriculum--heavily based on client input--gives attorneys an inside view of their clients' roles and responsibilities and provides them with the tools for a successful transition, should they wish to move in-house themselves. Firm clients have active roles in the program as faculty and mentors.

We offer a professional development series to help attorneys think about, prepare for, and embrace their retirement. This series is led by former Husch Blackwell partners and covers timeline for transition; communication of retirement plans internally and externally; compensation and financial consideration; post-retirement healthcare and wellness; and transitioning clients.

We bring value on many levels through our robust mentoring program. New associates are matched with a mentor who will support and guide them through their career development. In conjunction with our professional development programming, the mentoring program drives success within the firm, the community, and the legal profession. Husch Blackwell believes in the power of mentoring and supports the program by providing events, resources, and a billable hour equivalent for mentoring activities.

We are dedicated to providing in-depth industry and practice area-specific training for attorneys at all levels. Our firm’s practice areas are led by partners who are responsible for training associates on subjects relevant to their area. These leaders actively monitor associate workloads and project assignments to ensure they receive challenging work, progress at an appropriate rate, and have opportunities to develop practice area experience. Additionally, each of the firm’s industry groups offers regular training on industry trends and topics to advance attorneys’ knowledge in their specific fields.

All attorneys are encouraged to take advantage of programs that teach efficient and effective career management. We conduct training on a broad range of topics including time and project management; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and leadership, presentation, negotiation, and trial advocacy skills. So that our programs are accessible to all our attorneys, we maintain an On-Demand Learning Center that provides instant access to these trainings at their convenience. In addition, the firm’s Privileged Membership in the Practising Law Institute grants our attorneys unlimited access to their robust online catalog of training programs.

Our attorneys are encouraged to build their professional networks inside and outside of the firm. In doing so, they position themselves for lifelong learning and development. We financially support participation in a diverse range of conferences and associations, particularly for attorneys and staff who are people of color, women, part of the LGBTQ+ community, or any intersection thereof.