Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc. (LSGMI)
Professional Development Plan
Purpose
LSGMI is committed to professional growth and development of its staff. LSGMI recognizes that each employee
whether attorney, support staff or administrative staff is integral to achieving LSGMI’s mission, which is to
empower our clients and to alleviate hardships of poverty.
The purpose of the Professional Development Plan (PDP)* is to target competencies and skills to be developed
for two purposes: for use and growth in the employee’s current position and to advance LSGMI as an
organization. The annual PDP is an organized approach to professional development activities and programs to
help you achieve your professional goals.
This is a joint process and your supervisor is available to assist you in developing the plan and achieving your
goals. The HR department is also available for help.
Developing the Professional Development Plan
The process involves the following steps:
1. Spend some time thinking about your aspirations, preferences, values, and personality. Consider
various areas of your development such as substantive, technological, professionalism / people
skills, leadership etc. Consider reviewing the following:
a. Strengths that, if enhanced, will contribute to the overall mission of the organization and
increase productivity.
b. New skills that will be needed for the upcoming project.
c. Areas of performance/skills that need to be improved.
d. Changes in technology requiring new/improved skills.
2. Determine the appropriate learning methods and resources that will be needed. (See examples on page
2 for ideas)
3. Once the learning methods, activities, and resources have been selected, define the measures or
criteria that will be used to determine if the targeted learning has been accomplished.
4. Fill out the Professional Development Plan. Focus on key areas to be developed.
5. Meet with your supervisor to further explore opportunities and/or action steps and to obtain the final
approval. Meeting with Director of HR is also appropriate as additional tools could be identified.
6. Clarify your responsibilities with your supervisor. By signing the PDP, you and your supervisor agree
and commit to completing it.
7. Your supervisor will set up a reporting system so that (s)he can check on the progress and assist you
with making adjustments to the plan, if needed.
8. At the end of the year, meet with your supervisor to assess whether the goals have been met and to set
up goals for next year, if appropriate.
* Note: a copy of the PDP will be kept by your supervisor and Director of HR; the PDP is not part of your
personnel file. The PDP is voluntary and open to non-probationary employees with satisfactory performance.
Examples of Activities and Resources
There are several methods to facilitate growth and learning. These are just a few examples for your
consideration:
Generic Examples:
Assignments
 Working with new people
 Training new co-workers
 Temporary assignments, e.g., filling in for
someone on vacation
On the Job Opportunities (internal)
 Joining one of LSGMI committees (strategic,
wellness, events, social, etc.)
 Assuming leadership role in a committee
 Taking on new projects/assignments/initiatives
 Assuming lead role responsibilities in your
position
 Improving an existing process or procedure
 Starting a new process or procedure
Training/Development
 Attending a webinar (e.g. American
Management Association webinars)
 Attending a seminar / training
 Pursuing classes (e.g. Continuing Legal
Education course, or Linda trainings)
 See HR for more tools
Networking
 Joining a local professional organization
 Joining a listserve (a national or regional email
group with similar job-related interests)
 Joining/leading community groups
 Giving presentations to community groups
 Mentoring (e.g. with a board member or a
member of the community)
 Shadowing
Self-Development (on your time)
 Readings/Self-study
 Professional organizations
 College/University Programs
 Seminars
Job-Specific Examples:
Attorneys
 Co-counseling a case with a private attorney
 Joining a bar association (LSGMI pays for
one membership per year) and being active
on a bar committee
 Collaborating with Region 7 Impact
Advocacy Committee
 Training other providers in the community
Legal Assistants
 Refreshing / learning new software skills:
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Outlook;
- Legal Server;
- PowerPoint;
- Other programs that become necessary
 Learning organizational skills (moving
paper, managing cases / time, working with
several attorneys)
 Improving writing skills (i.e. reference a
book on sample letter writing)
 Hosting an in-house training
Intake Paralegals and Reception
 Taking a writing refresher course
 Seminars/webinars on interviewing,
customer service
Unit Paralegals
 Legal writing course
 Learning how to draft discovery
 Observing meetings or hearings
 Learning legal research methods
Administration
 Task rotation; cross-training
 Researching various topics
 Implementing new projects
 Obtaining proposals for various services
Professional Development Plan (PDP) Form
Name:
Department:
Position:
Supervisor:
During the next year I would like to accomplish the following goals to improve my knowledge and skills and I will take the steps noted to achieve them.
Goal #1:
Steps to be taken /Skills to be acquired /Activities & Resources
Time Frame (Start -Complete)
How would Success be Measured
Time Frame (Start – Complete)
How would Success be Measured
Time Frame (Start – Complete)
How would Success be Measured
Goal #2:
Steps to be taken /Skills to be acquired /Activities & Resources
Goal #3:
Steps to be taken /Skills to be acquired /Activities & Resources
Please attach pages, if needed. Please be prepared to explain to your supervisor how your goals will help you with your current job and/or will advance LSGMI’s mission.
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Employee Signature
Date
Supervisor Signature
Date