Reed Smith University (RSU) is the educational arm of Reed Smith. Launched in 2004 in partnership with The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, RSU was the first of its kind: a comprehensive, continuous learning organization created and maintained by a major international law firm. Now, RSU offers hundreds of classes each year to support lawyers, clients and staff. Taught both internally and in partnership with leading outside providers across our global network, these courses range widely across the legal and business landscape, enabling Reed Smith personnel to become better lawyers, better managers, or better staff members.
Reed Smith University is comprised of five “schools”:
The School of Law – To build legal skills
The School of Leadership – To develop and motivate leaders and future leaders
The School of Business Development – To foster a deeper understanding of clients and how the firm can meet their needs
The School of Technology – To understand and leverage the firm’s investment in technology
The School of Professional Support – To develop a first-class support staff
Through its alignment with the firm’s CareeRS program, RSU helps Reed Smith’s lawyers and staff members gain the knowledge, skills and capabilities – i.e., the competencies – they need to succeed in their jobs. RSU’s competency-based core curriculum for lawyers combines substantive legal and skills-training with courses designed to develop business-savvy and client-focused associates and partners who can effectively lead and manage our clients’ matters.
Reed Smith University opens up many of its in-house substantive legal programs to clients – to attend at a nearby Reed Smith office or even in the clients’ own offices by video- or audio-conference. Depending on the applicable continuing education rules, many of those courses qualify for CLE or CPD credit in locations where Reed Smith has offices and in other jurisdictions. RSU can also provide specially tailored training at client offices, for both in-house lawyers and company personnel, again for CLE or CPD credit where available.
