Transforming Client Relationships Through Innovation (Online)

Transforming Client Relationships Through Innovation will give participants the tools and frameworks to encourage and leverage innovation–from small tweaks on existing projects to larger system change–in their organization to become more efficient, effective, and adaptable.

The program will equip participants to:

• Understand how innovation, especially client service innovation, can help you differentiate in today’s changing legal service market.
• Identify and overcome barriers to innovation, such as risk aversion, established reward systems, and ingrained culture.
• Amplify your leadership skills by developing an innovation mindset that enhances client-centricity, collaborative problem solving, and change management.
• Apply proven techniques to transform your client relationships.

Transforming Client Relationships Through Innovation’s distinguished faculty will utilize real case studies, lectures, hands-on, team-based exercises, and small group discussions to give participants a deep understanding of why innovation is important to their work, how to implement innovative concepts at their firm, and the benefits of adopting an innovation mindset.

The curriculum topics include:

• The market for legal services and exploration of barriers to change
• Perspectives on how innovation techniques can help drive change within an organization and transform relationships with clients
• The organizational environment and its readiness for transformation
• New thinking around the transformation of legal services: what services lawyers provide and how they provide those services
• Collaborative problem solving techniques
• How to apply the learnings from the master class to take action at your organization

Hear about the main program themes from faculty chair Michele DeStefano.

About the Format

Transforming Client Relationships Through Innovation will take place on the Harvard Zoom platform over the course of 3 days. There will be two program sessions each day between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. ET. Accepted participants should reserve this window on their calendars until we circulate a finalized program schedule. Each session will be between 1½ – 2 hours long, and we will schedule a break of at least 30 minutes between the two daily sessions.  In order to earn a certificate of completion, participants are expected to attend every session. As with our on-campus programs, class size will be limited.

View the program schedule→
Schedule is subject to change. 

Building Community and Networks

Our highly interactive sessions include frequent opportunities for engagement among participants. These break out discussions and activities enable participants to exchange thoughts, ideas, and perspectives to learn from—and get to know—each other. Additionally, upon completion, participants join our global Harvard Law School Executive Education Alumni Network.

Transforming Client Relationships Through Innovation is designed for legal professionals including law firm partners and chief officers and rising in-house Counsel who are interested in driving innovation in their organizations at the practice, department, business unit, or organizational level. Leaders in professional services firms including accounting, consulting, engineering, and design are also encouraged to attend. The program will benefit:

• Partners looking to develop innovative ways to serve clients and top talent.
• Law firm chief officers (CMO, COO, CTO, CINO) who are restricted by traditional systems and processes.
• Rising in-house counsel and legal operations professionals who need to develop new approaches to service delivery and align more effectively with their business partners.
• Leaders in professional services firms who are driving innovation within the organization or for clients.

We recommend participants attend the program as part of a small team from their firm or organization. Attending with colleagues not only provides accountability but also the opportunity for greater impact in your organization.

Not sure if this program is right for you? Ask us.

Visit the Admissions page for information on the process.

The Teaching Team

Professors DeStefano, Westfahl, and Wilkins will provide a global perspective on the market for legal services and how innovation techniques can help drive change within an organization and enhance relationships with clients.

Professor Michele DeStefano – Program Chair

Professor Scott Westfahl – Faculty

Professor David Wilkins – Faculty

Learn more about the Transforming Client Relationships Through Innovation faculty→