Media & Communications Corner: Interview with Susan Fried, Chief Officer of Recruitment and Development at K&L Gates

Her background as one of the country's first professional development professionals prepared Susan well for the opportunities and challenges she would face at K&L Gates, one of the world's leading law firms with 1,500 lawyers stretched across 24 offices on three continents. Susan was one of the earliest members of the board of directors of the Professional Development Consortium, an association of development specialists at major law firms in the United States, Canada and England. Perhaps most helpful to her current role, however, is her own background as a corporate lawyer.

The leadership of K&L Gates understands the importance of Susan's integrative and holistic approach to recruiting, developing and retaining the best associates. With the firm's partnership and global recruiting and professional development teams, Susan ensures that the firm attracts a diverse group of talented men and women, and then designs systems and networks to develop and retain them. In a fast-paced industry where many young associates often leave large firms for in-house positions, K&L Gates has counteracted by establishing programs to help lawyers succeed at all levels. This includes the Professional and Personal Life Integration (PPLI) Initiative, and the firm's Balanced Hours Program, which allows lawyers to pursue individually tailored work arrangements like reduced hours or telecommuting. Susan also oversees a formal mentoring program, and works closely with the firm's U.S. Director of Diversity, Rick Jones, to encourage associates to flourish in all aspects of their lives.