Linda Salem leads Reed Smith University, the firm’s training arm, in the firm’s U.S. offices. She and her team work with members of firm leadership, senior staff, and the University's five Schools (of Law, Leadership, Business Development, Technology, and Professional Support) to plan, develop and implement programs specifically tailored to the developmental and career needs of firm lawyers and staff. This includes training on substantive legal knowledge and skills for attorneys and paraprofessionals at all levels, as well as workplace skills – e.g., leadership, business development, communications, people and matter management, and the “business of law,” among other areas. Linda and the other members of the Reed Smith University team also support Reed Smith’s lawyers in providing external CLEs and other training programs to firm clients.
In addition, Linda oversees U.S. operations of the firm’s CareeRS program, a competency-based development program that encompasses all aspects of career and professional development including competency development and management, associate feedback and reviews, mentoring, coaching, career planning and goal setting, and the like.
Linda provides support to both the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee and the WINRS (Women’s Initiative) Committee. She is a management member of the Firmwide Associates Committee, and a member of the Firmwide Racial Equity Task Force.
Before transitioning into her professional development role, Linda was a practicing lawyer and law firm partner. She is able to use that valuable experience, coupled with more than twenty years on the learning & development side, to better understand and meet the development needs of Reed Smith's lawyers and clients.
