Canadian Lawyer InHouse

INHOUSE www.canadianlawyermag.com/inhouse Director/Group Publisher: Karen Lorimer karen.lorimer@thomsonreuters.com Editor in Chief: Gail J. Cohen gail.cohen@thomsonreuters.com Editor: Jennifer Brown jen.brown@thomsonreuters.com Staff Writer: Charlotte Santry charlotte.santry@thomsonreuters.com Copy Editor: Mallory Hendry Art Director: Steve Maver Account Co-ordinator: Catherine Giles E D I T O R ' s b o x By Jennifer Brown Certified in-house counsel D Publications Mail Agreement #40766500 uring its 25th anniversary and annual spring conference, the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association announced it had teamed up with the Rotman School of Management to launch a certification program for Canadian in-house counsel that in many ways mirrors an executive MBA — but at a fraction of the cost. The Certified In-House Counsel Canada program has been referred to as a "business leadership program for in-house counsel." It's a feather in the cap of the CCCA for creating the program at a time when in-house are asking for more business education as no other in-house association is currently offering such a program. While some universities in the U.S. have post-law school programs such as the Association of Corporate Counsel's mini MBA it offers in conjunction with Boston University Business School, this appears to be the only certification of its kind. The CCCA worked with Rotman for the last year to develop the program geared towards new to mid-level in-house lawyers who ultimately want to become general counsel or a member of the executive team of a company. It is also being positioned as a program for those who are the only legal officers in their companies and want to grow their management/leadership skills. While in-house lawyers will be given first consideration, lawyers employed in law firms can also apply to the program, but all graduates must have three years of in-house experience to qualify for the designation. Grant Borbridge, chairman of the CCCA, said that when the association first started looking at this two years ago it was because they realized that while law school and continuing education programs do a fantastic job of teaching lawyers substantive law, what it doesn't do is prepare them to be an in-house counsel. "This is intended to fill that gap in learning," Borbridge told me. The CIC.C program is modeled after Rotman's Institute of Corporate Director program. Borbridge said senior general counsel who are members of the CCCA's Leader's Forum reviewed the outline of the program and compared it to taking an executive MBA. It is expected to take between 12 months and two years to complete the CIC.C designation. The first module will take place in Toronto at the University of Toronto Feb. 28, 2014, and the cost is $9,100. It is expected the program will partner with additional Canadian universities across the country. A pilot project will roll out this fall with senior-level general counsel who will take the program at a discounted rate to review it with the idea they will then recommend it to their staff. Borbridge hopes one day the certification becomes so recognized in the in-house bar that it becomes the "gold standard" for hiring. He knows getting senior general counsel on board with the program will be critical to its success. As with so many professional certifications, they are only as good as the awareness of their value and that may take some promotion. Unless those who do the hiring of in-house counsel understand what the designation brings to the job, they may not grasp its worth to an organization. But as competition increases for in-house positions it may become a differentiator many could benefit from. IH To subscribe or change addresses Call (416) 649-9926 Fax (416) 649-7870 or e-mail Ellen Alstein at ellen.alstein@thomsonreuters.com Send your Advertising Sales Representatives Legal Suppliers: Kimberlee Pascoe Tel: (416) 649-8875 E-mail: kimberlee.pascoe@thomsonreuters.com Law Firms: Karen Lorimer Tel: (416) 649-9411 E-mail: karen.lorimer@thomsonreuters.com Grace So Tel: (416) 609-5838 E-mail: grace.so@thomsonreuters.com Sales Co-ordinator: Sandy Shutt Tel: (416) 649-8864 E-mail: sandra.shutt@thomsonreuters.com Canadian Lawyer InHouse is published 6 times a year by Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd., One Corporate Plaza 2075 Kennedy Rd., Toronto ON. M1T 3V4 (416) 298-5141. Fax : 416-649-7870 Web: www.canadianlawyermag.com/inhouse LinkedIn group: www.goo.gl/9tytr Editorial advisory board: Sanjeev Dhawan, Hydro One Networks Inc.; Kari Horn, Alberta Securities Commission; Jonathan Lau, TVO; Janis Vanderburgh, York Region Rapid Transit Corp. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted without written permission. The opinions expressed in articles are not necessarily those of the publisher. Information presented is compiled from sources believed to be accurate, however, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions. Canadian Lawyer InHouse disclaims any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or currency of the contents of this publication and disclaims all liability in respect of the results of any action taken or not taken in reliance upon information in this publication. ISSN 1921-9563 Copyright © 2013 H.S.T. 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