6 Asian Legal Business | October 2024 The Briefs Lawyer launchpad In an effort to attract and retain top talent, firms are implementing innovative training initiatives to nurture the next generation of lawyers, and developing essential skills such as adaptability, commercial awareness, and technological proficiency. When we meet candidates, we want them to visualise training with us. And so we start from the earliest touch points. For example, when running an event for law students, we’ll offer an interview skills workshop. That way, they meet us but also expand their own personal toolkit. For any young lawyer, a personal toolkit is key to flourishing in today’s evolving legal services landscape. When trainees join us, we introduce our Associate Competencies with a hands-on exercise to bring them to life. Trainees learn that clients, communications, knowledge, people, performance and stewardship are not abstract concepts, but something to practise now. For example, for clients, a trainee can achieve this by building rapport. Whereas a Senior Associate is encouraged to develop longer-term relationships. So, the expectations grow as you grow. How to get there? We’ve embedded Development Centres. For example, juniors get to look at how to define themselves as a lawyer, network and connect with a mentor. At mid-level, how to build ongoing client relationships and negotiate. For Senior Associates, business development tools and business plans. Today’s legal market is competitive. To help our people thrive, we empower them to own the skills they need. With a vision of being the premier law firm in Vietnam, YKVN is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of legal professionals. We actively seek bright, dedicated law students and professionals with a strong work ethic to join our team, reflecting our commitment to excellence and unmatched legal expertise. Our training typically begins with a compulsory program for associates across all offices. It covers legal fundamentals, ethics, soft skills, client management, and specialized practice areas such as M&A, banking, and arbitration. We offer internal insight seminars, led by senior experts, to explore complex legal issues, and we invite external professionals to deliver essential skills training. Additionally, to broaden our associates’ expertise, we support their attendance at events hosted by legal authorities and professional organizations. Finally, YKVN provides academic and financial support to law students. We award the YKVN Scholarship each year to promising law students. In addition, we collaborate with prestigious universities to provide internship opportunities to qualified students and supports international moot court competitions. To attract the brightest law graduates, our firm offers a range of training opportunities that emphasise early talent and diversity. Many of our training programmes have a strong focus on Pro Bono and Responsible Business activities. This hands-on experience is pivotal for fostering a sense of social responsibility and legal acumen among our trainees. We provide a practical learning environment where emphasis is given to early responsibility and supervised client contact, encouraging our trainees to develop key legal and business skills. The Charles Russell Speechlys Business School is also central to our approach, offering a tailored programme to all early talent. Our Business School helps individuals to develop essential professional and commercial skills, from personal organisation to understanding the firm’s financial performance. Our commitment to personal growth extends through every career stage, ensuring continuous development and alignment with the firm’s ethos from the most junior levels to the most senior. Understanding the importance of diverse perspectives, we have implemented both traditional and reverse mentoring schemes, underpinning our diversity and inclusion objectives. FORUM Rachael Guan graduate recruitment and development manager, Mayer Brown Truong Nhat Quang managing partner, YKVN Silvia On head of Hong Kong office, CRS What training initiatives has your organisation established to attract law graduates, and which essential skill sets are required for the new generation of legal professionals?
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