Stites & Harbison, PLLC

Jeanne is responsible for developing and administering a comprehensive professional development curriculum for the firm's attorneys. She also is responsible for strategically consolidating and coordinating the firm's recruitment programs. Jeanne works closely with the firm's Management Committee, Service Group Leaders, and Recruiting Chairpersons in support of these areas. She also works closely with the firm's Diversity Committee to support the firm's Diversity Action Plan and to ensure the professional development, recruitment, and diversity initiatives work in harmony with each other.

Jeanne's overall mission is to attract and retain high quality, diverse legal talent to Stites & Harbison and offer programming to enhance attorney expertise, performance, and satisfaction.

Recent Accomplishments / Results

Professional Development

• Designed a comprehensive professional development strategy, which includes a detailed roadmap for associate skill progression across the five colleges of Stites University
• Created a core curriculum for three associate academies designed to support the successful transition of associates from one responsibility level to the next
       - Academy 1 - junior level to mid-level associate transition
       - Academy 2 - mid-level to senior associate transition
       - Academy 3 - senior associate preparing for membership
         transition
• Developed and implemented an improved lateral integration process
• Improved annual associate/counsel evaluation and review process
       - Introduction of new technology
       - Shortened and improved evaluation forms
       - Improved timeline and execution of overall process
• Instituted and conducts attorney exit interviews
• Instituted regular use of internal feedback surveys
• Facilitated purchase and rollout of new knowledge management tool - LexisNexis Total Search

Diversity

• Coordinated and assisted in development of diversity training for firm leadership
• Introduced and integrated three diversity job fairs to summer associate and entry-level recruiting practices
• Continues to support and expand SWIFT (Stites Women Investing in our Future Together) initiatives and activities
• Assisted in researching and drafting the firm's comprehensive Diversity Action Plan

Recruiting

• Instituted and implemented a joint summer associate orientation program
• Planned and facilitated first Recruiting Summit with recruiting and diversity chairs the marketing department
• Developed and implemented "cross-pollination" strategy for OCI interviewing (See NALP Bulletin article, Jan. 2006)
• Instituted "blind" writing samples reviews for summer associate program (firm-wide 2006) and for all associate-level candidates (firm-wide 2007)

Recent Speaking Engagements and Publications

• "All Roads Lead to Rome: Effective Strategies for Integrating & Building PD Programming Regardless of Where You Start or What You Have," co-presenter, 2010 NALP / ALI-ABA Professional Development Institute, Dec. 2010
• "Partnering Together to Make a Successful Lawyer," co-presenter, NALP 2010 Education Conference & Resource Center Exhibition, San Juan, Puerto Rico, April 28, 2010
• "Coaching in Law Firms–Making the Old New Again!," moderator, Professional Development Consortium 2009 Webinar Series, Dec. 2009
• "Developing Superior Law Firm Leaders–A Look Back at the LDI," author, NALP Bulletin, Sept. 2009
• "How to Stay Relevant in Today's World," webinar panelist, Celesq Attorneys Ed Center, July 2009
• "Transition Programs for New Partners," co-presenter, 2009 NALP / ALI-ABA Lawyer Development Institute, June 2009
• "Designing a Strategic PD Program at Small and Mid-Size Firms," co-presenter, 2008 NALP / ALI-ABA Professional Development Institute, Dec. 2008
• Author, "Mentoring Myths," author, Louisville Bar Briefs, Nov. 2008
• "5 Steps to Building Loyalty - One Connection at a Time," co-author, NALP Bulletin, Jan. 2008
• "Retaining Legal Talent: Using Flexibility as a Two-Way Street," co-presenter, 2007 NALP / ALI-ABA Professional Development Institute, Dec. 2007
• "Ensuring Mentoring & Feedback Programs Enhance the Attorney Experience," co-presenter and panelist, ACI Forum on Law Firm Associate Retention and Professional Development, Oct. 30, 2007
• "Flexing with the Generations - Another Dimension of Diversity," presenter, Association of Legal Administrators, KY Chapter, Sept. 13, 2007
• "Cross-Pollinate for OCI Success," author, NALP Bulletin, Sept. 2006
• "Competing with the Mega-Firms: Addressing Challenges in Attracting & Retaining a Talented Workforce - Perspectives from Stites & Harbison," presenter, Ark Group, Human Capital Development for the Modern Law Firm, Recruiting, Retaining & Nurturing the Best Talent for Your Firm, Feb. 7-8, 2006
• "Meeting the Needs of a New Generation of Lawyers, Fee-earners & Clients," panelist, Ark Group, Human Capital Development for the Modern Law Firm, Recruiting, Retaining & Nurturing the Best Talent for Your Firm., Feb. 7-8, 2006
• "Marketing Yourself, Your Practice, or Your Law Firm," program development, organization, and panel selection, Louisville Bar Association, Oct. 2005

Before Stites & Harbison

Jeanne spent seven years working with LexisNexis as an Account Manager and Applications Consultant. She has extensive experience developing and presenting education and training programs for all levels of law firm management and personnel. In addition, she educated attorneys regarding complex enterprise-wide technology products such as portal technology and electronic document discovery. She also has significant experience and formal training in handling negotiations.

Prior to LexisNexis, Jeanne worked in the Louisville office of Stites & Harbison as an associate in the Business Litigation Service Group.

Besides Stites & Harbison

Jeanne enjoys traveling, especially to Italy.  She also enjoys wine tasting, the performing arts, reading, and any opportunity to learn something new.