About
Given the needs of the new global, complex, multidisciplinary marketplace, successful legal professionals must be creative problem solvers, leaders with a high risk tolerance and business mindset that can use technology, collaboration, leadership, and communication skills to overcome the walls of law. Therefore, LWOW focuses on:
1. Upskilling and re-skilling
LWOW helps develop skills that are essential to being a successful legal service provider such as teaming, leadership, mentoring, communication, project management, innovation, cultural competency, business planning, problem finding/solving, presentation, technology, networking, and change agency. LWOW enhances your ability to engage in the way clients desire.
2. Transforming Culture and Relationships
LWOW is team based. In all LWOW offerings, teams of law and business professionals work with students from around the world to create viable solutions to real problems related to the business of law and/or social responsibility (or ESG). In the process, in addition to honing the DNA of an innovator and learning new methods of problem solving and innovation, participants transform relationships with their colleagues and their clients and learn new approaches to create community and culture change.
3. Creating Innovative Solutions to Real Business-of-Law and/or Social Responsibility (or ESG)
In LWOW Sprint, in-person teams apply the 3-4-5 Method of Innovation(developed by Professor Michele DeStefano) to co-create and present a Project of Worth: a practicable solution and prototype to a real problem sponsored by a corporate legal department, law firm, legal tech or services company or nonprofit organization. They learn new design thinking principles and new ways to innovate and be agents of change. Most importantly, LWOW infuses the hearts and minds of those who participate with a passion and the tools for collaboration and transformation.
See LWOW in action! Watch this video of LWOW 2022 in Segovia, Spain!
Sprint 2022 Recap Short Final.mov from lawwithoutwalls on Vimeo.
LWOW 2023 Offerings
In 2023, LWOW is in-person with a 3-day experiential learning “weekender” Sprint 17-19 March 2023 in St.Gallen, Switzerland hosted by St.Gallen Executive School of Management, Technology and Law. LWOW 2023 is focused on building an intergenerational, multidisciplinary exchange while introducing new skill sets to law and business students, legal and business professionals to prepare them to navigate increasingly changing legal environments. Our goal is to prepare our students to be professional, nimble problem solvers, innovative thinkers, to be able to collaborate in all circumstances, and to be culturally competent. The goals of these offerings build on LWOW’s historic 3-part mission:
- Help participants hone 21st century professional skills (e.g., innovation, cultural competency, creative problem finding and solving, leadership, business planning, communication, collaboration, and multidisciplinary/intergenerational teaming).
- Transform relationships between legal professionals and clients.
- Create innovations that solve real business and/or social responsibility challenges faced by legal departments and law firms/companies.
Why Participate?
- Gain and/ or create deeper understanding of the global legal marketplace and how the rapidly chaging legal environment is impacting the expectations, work, and careerrs of legal professionals.
- Learn knowledge and skills that can be leveraged to create value and meaningful change professinally and personally.
- Learn the 3-4-5 Method of Innovation and design thinking principals.
- Exchange with 1000+ our community of multidisciplinary, intergenerational change agents.
- For students, LWOW Sprint 2023 is equivalent to 3 credits total in the U.S.
When and Where
The LWOW Sprint will take place 17-19 March 2023 in St. Gallen, Switzerland (about 1 hour train ride from Zurich). Please visit our website at www.lwow.org for a 2023 Program Overview.
Student Application Process
Step 1: Get to Know LWOW
Before applying to LWOW, read all the information available about it on our website.
Step 2: Apply
- Go online to the LWOW website and complete the online application which will go live 15 September 2022. It asks for information typically available on a CV, a link to your Interview Video, contact information, and a short response (500 words or less) to a substantive question of your choice. Interviews may be required.
- Ask an academic or professional supervisor to complete the applicant recommendation on your behalf. The person completing this form should have experience working with you. (Note that students from University College London and Penn Law/Wharton are exempt from the recommendation.)
Questions?
Please visit the LawWithoutWalls website or contact Program Director Anite Ritchie at anita@lwow.org.
