New training programme makes managers more accessible

The best talents are in high demand on the Danish labour market, especially in the part of the legal profession to which Gorrissen Federspiel belongs. The lawyers and staff of the future expect managers to be visible and accessible, providing regular feedback, career counselling and focus on well-being. If you can’t offer that as a workplace, talent will look elsewhere.

“It’s the norm in our profession that lawyers don’t formally acquire management responsibilities until the day they become partners. But when that happens at a time when you’re already spending most of your waking hours on clients, cases and business development, there’s a limit to how accessible you can be to your employees. This is a conservative and outdated approach to management, which stands in stark contrast to the fact that today’s labour market is very much employee-driven,” explains Head of HR Sara Jursic.

Good management is essential for employee engagement

Therefore, if we want our position in the market to stay strong in the future, we need to focus much more on management. That is the reason why Gorrissen Federspiel, in collaboration with AVT Business School, has developed its own management training programme aimed at experienced attorneys and heads of practice groups.

Management is already exercised below partner level, but it is not formalised or binding as it will be now.

“The aim of the new training programme is for employees to feel that management is in easy reach and are available to support the individual’s development, career and well-being. Good management is simply essential to attract and retain the talent we rely heavily on to maintain our position in the market,” says Sara Jursic.

Better feedback

As Managing Counsel, the level below partner, 32-year-old attorney Andreas Hertel has already experienced the challenges of management. He was one of the first employees to participate in the new training programme. One of the tools he took with him from the programme was ways to give better feedback.

“Feedback is often given low priority or given in an inappropriate manner because the working day can be hectic and time pressured. But systematic feedback on your work is invaluable for your performance and overall development. At the same time, it has tremendous value for the cooperation in the firm – and ultimately with our clients,” says Andreas Hertel.

In 2022, the first 65 employees started the training programme at the AVT Business School.