Beyond Buzzwords:
Designing Competency Models That Actually Drive Performance

Competency models often sound good on paper, but in practice, many fall flat. Overloaded with vague buzzwords like “collaborative” or “strategic thinker,” they rarely provide the clarity professionals need to grow or the structure leaders need to make informed talent decisions.

In this interactive Forum, we’ll unpack what it really takes to build a law firm competency model that’s both strategic and practical. Drawing on lessons from recent projects, including a full redesign of a mid-size law firm’s career advancement framework, we’ll explore:

• Why most competency models fail (and how to avoid their pitfalls)
• How to translate firm values and expectations into observable, role-specific behaviors
• The balancing act between flexibility and consistency across roles and levels
• How a well-built model can transform feedback, promotion, professional development, and self-advocacy

Please come prepared to share what you’ve seen work well, what didn’t work so well, and where you currently need support. Our goal is to crowdsource specific ideas that will help everyone!

About LeadWise Forum:

Looking for a confidential space to connect with your peers, discuss shared experiences, and crowdsource ideas and solutions to your most pressing issues as a law firm business professional? The LeadWise Forum sessions are led by Yuliya LaRoe, LeadWise Group CEO, an experienced attorney, legal industry consultant, and certified BD and executive coach. LeadWise Forum events are complimentary invitation-only monthly events for law firm talent, DEI, practice management, business development, marketing professionals, and operational leaders. Request your invitation to join one of the upcoming LeadWise Forums and engage in open dialogue, learn from others facing similar challenges, and gain actionable insights that you can bring back to your firm to make an impact.

If you are inviting your firm colleagues, please make sure that they are a part of the intended audience. Our Forums are not webinars; they are designed to be highly interactive, where every participant brings something to the table. The Forums are not recorded for public distribution as we want to create a confidential environment where participants can safely share their experiences, challenges, and solutions.

For over a decade, Yuliya and her team partnered with law firm leaders to successfully solve challenges in employee engagement, team performance enhancement, people and practice management skills development, leadership growth, succession planning, business development, and more. Her guidance has empowered numerous law firms and leaders to achieve their goals and navigate the ever-changing legal business landscape.

UPCOMING LEADWISE FORUM:

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

2 PM to 3 PM Eastern | 1 PM to 2 PM Central | 11 AM to 12 PM Pacific

Virtually via Zoom