Boston University School of Management Association of Corporate Counsel
Mini MBA for In-house Counsel Program - Ferary 9-11, 2009 - Boston Univeristy's Executive Leadership Center

Why management education for lawyers?

Corporate lawyers must be more than just able attorneys. They need advanced business proficiency so they can speak the language of their clients, understand the operations of a business, and make critical decisions that often involve millions of dollars. Companies expect lawyers not only to bring their legal skills to the table, but also their wise judgment concerning business operations.

Lawyers also manage people at all levels-paralegals, support staff, other lawyers. Their ability to create a motivational environment and to interact effectively with bosses, co-workers, and subordinates is crucial to the success of their business and their career.

What is the advantage of the mini mba for lawyers?

Lawyers will enhance their ability to understand financial statements, financial tools to value all or part of a business, and the impact of a decision on a business’ strategic and marketing goals. You will also learn how to effectively manage work relationships and develop methods for minimizing the risks of decision-making. With greater knowledge comes better decision-making and strategic planning.

The Mini MBA for Lawyers explores the essential business skills that enhance and sharpen a lawyer’s management knowledge in critical MBA disciplines: Accounting, Finance, Strategy and Organizational Behavior.

The format of the Mini MBA for Lawyers allows you to capture vital skills in a timeframe that acknowledges your busy schedule.

Program Objectives

This three-day program introduces the important business skills you need in order to succeed in today’s competitive environment. The line between business and legal advice is blurring and you are required to understand the business pressures of your clients or your employer.

By participating in this program, you will learn to:

  • Determine best practices for implementing a strategy;
  • Assess the relationship between the major financial statements;
  • Uncover red flags in financial statements and avoid ethical pitfalls;
  • Understand the importance of valuation and the language of corporate finance;
  • Analyze and manage risk more effectively using decision making trees;
  • Negotiate challenging work relationships and increase your value to the organization;
  • Manage business as a system with better decision making and long term strategic planning.