Kevin Chard

Associate

Kevin-Chard-Portrait

Kevin has built up an excellent reputation as the learning and development manager with Blake Lapthorn – a leading top 100 law firm – over a period of 15 years. During this period the firm underwent a huge period of expansion and change culminating in its merger with Morgan Cole in 2014 – as Blake Morgan.

Kevin mirrored this growth by developing a highly regarded, innovative and effective learning and development (L & D) function. He has an innovative and questioning mind-set underpinned by an organised and methodical approach which has provided strong leadership and management for his team during this huge period of change.

He is now working as an independent consultant and is developing a niche for himself in supporting the L & D functions within law firms as well as facilitating practical personal and management skills training courses.

Kevin fully complements the existing skills set and options provided for Pegasus clients – but brings with him expertise in such other areas as apprenticeship schemes.

Learning and Development Manager Responsibilities

  • Management of the Blake Lapthorn training team with an annual budget in excess of £250k.
  • Responsible for developing the firm wide training strategy/policy in tandem with the senior management team and departmental training partners to support the firm’s and departmental business strategies and needs.
  • Co-ordination of all internal training programmes, including induction, departmental programmes, development centres and firm-wide developmental initiatives.
  • Liaising with external suppliers to ensure effective and commercial training delivery.

Training, Coaching and People Development

  • Designing and delivering management and personal skills training to all levels with high levels of buy-in.
  • Accredited Insights personality profiling and Belbin team roles trainer – delivered interactively and with a clear purpose.
  • Experienced facilitator and coach.
  • Pastoral care of trainees and apprentices through regular review meetings and providing a clear conduit between the partners and trainees/apprentices.

Trainee Solicitor, Apprenticeship and other Entry Point Responsibilities

  • Management and pastoral care for the Firm’s trainee solicitors – typical intake 15 trainees each year with a retention rate of 90%.
  • Managing the allocation of seats, secondments, training programmes and events for trainee solicitors.
  • Introduced, recruited and managed the Blake Lapthorn apprenticeship programme in 2011 and the advanced apprenticeship scheme in the summer of 2014.
  • Experience of further crucial professional and employability initiatives including Pathways to Law and PRIME.

 Event Planning

  • Planning firm wide events – the largest of which was the annual partners’ conference – and which included venue and speaker sourcing; developing and co-ordination of content and on the day facilitation of the event.
  • Other events include litigation summer school, departmental conferences, team-building events and AGMs.

Recruitment responsibilities

  • Direct recruitment initiatives for paralegal and similar junior executive roles.
  • Graduate recruitment through face to face meetings, law fairs and careers talks.
  • Graduate selection through assessment centres.

Other Activities:

Kevin is an avid football fan; a member of the Southampton Philatelic Society and enjoys socialising.