Description
This program is part of the 2026 Professional Development Workshop Series – for more information on the Series, view the brochure here 2026 Professional Development Workshop Series.
Today’s legal workplace spans multiple generations — from Traditionalists to Gen Z — each bringing different expectations, communication styles, and levels of comfort with technology. When these styles collide, misunderstandings can increase stress, slow down workflow, and complicate the management of legal tasks across practice settings, from courtrooms to conference rooms.
This interactive program explores practical, inclusive communication strategies that help attorneys and legal staff work more effectively across generations. Using memorable pop-culture lawyer archetypes and real-world scenarios from a variety of practice settings, the session illustrates how communication habits can either support or undermine collaboration, clarity, and the effective management of legal work.
Participants will learn how to navigate generational differences in communication style; how to provide and receive direction (including constructive feedback framed as communication) with clarity and professionalism; and how to reduce stress caused by ambiguous, inconsistent, or outdated communication practices. The program also examines how emerging technologies — including digital collaboration tools and AI-assisted drafting — are reshaping communication expectations across generations.
By the end of the session, attorneys will have actionable strategies to improve daily workflow, strengthen team collaboration, and enhance the management of legal matters through more intentional and generationally aware communication practices.
Learning Objectives:
Identify communication patterns, preferences, and stress points that commonly arise across generations in legal workplaces.
Apply communication models that strengthen clarity, professionalism, and workflow efficiency across attorney and staff teams.
Use effective strategies for providing and receiving direction (including constructive feedback as communication) in ways that reduce avoidable stress.
Improve collaboration in key practice settings by increasing understanding of generational dynamics and adjusting communication approaches accordingly.
Recognize how leveraging technology and emerging tools (including AI and digital collaboration systems) can support more consistent and effective communication.
Understand how communication breakdowns impact the management of legal work, and adopt practices that promote smoother processes and stronger client service.
CLE Credit:
New York: 2.0 Law Practice Management
New Jersey: TBD
California: TBD
Pennsylvania: TBD
Connecticut: Available to Licensed Attorneys
Venue
Virtual
Organizer
New York City Bar
Admission Fee
Free for New York City Bar Members & Attorneys from Sponsoring Law Firms
Non-Members: $75