Training
As a firm for which professional legal advice is paramount we do not leave the training of our lawyers to chance. Training falls into different categories: specialised legal training, training on general “soft skills” and personal competence and Legal English courses.
Specialised legal training (years 1-5)
Specialised legal training takes place on the job, in the departments and practice groups. We rely on suggestions from the practice groups and the own initiative of our lawyers, who should identify training issues and events in order to improve their own competence and that of the practice group.
General training (years 1-3)
Specialised legal knowledge is the basis of our work. However, good advisers need other skills, too, namely the so-called “soft skills”. The following subjects are presented regularly at several dates set in advance during any given year:
> Presentation techniques
> Service quality and profitability
> Networking and new business
> Negotiation techniques
> Self organisation/work-life balance
Training on these issues will take place in one-and-a-half day seminars outside the firm and be provided by external trainers and firm partners.
Language courses
Our associates may take part in regular Legal English lessons if they want to do so.
Specialisation in certain branches of law and secondment
In addition to the training modules described above lawyers may obtain a specialisation (“Fachanwalt”) or similar qualification during or after the fourth year of their employment at SKW Schwarz.
From year 5, they may enter into an optional secondment to a company or a correspondent law firm abroad.
Mentoring
As an associate you will have a mentor, i.e. a partner who will act as a confidant and talk to you on a personal and open basis. You will be able to discuss your career plans with your mentor. You will get information and help concerning internal procedures and you can ask all those stupid questions that regularly pop up for young lawyers. You and your mentor will meet regularly for coffee or anything else and he or she should always have an open ear for what you need.