How to Plan a Law Firm Retreat

If you’d like to have a law firm retreat, step one is to come up with a plan.

How much are you willing to spend on the retreat? Where will it be held – in-house or offsite? Will attendance be mandatory? How long will the retreat last?

Once you have a framework in place, you can start filling in the details.

“Retreats look different for every business and team,” writes Katarina Betterton for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce website CO. “But all demand care and attention to detail in the planning phase. Different-sized companies will have different priorities. Larger companies with 20 or more employees attending will have a bigger budget but may struggle to find a date and time range that works for everyone. Smaller teams will have an easier time finding accommodations and a date but may have a smaller budget to work with.”

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Law Firm Retreat Planning Checklist

Here are some takeaways from the article “How to Plan a Productive and Enjoyable Retreat” from the US Chamber of Commerce:

• Prepare an itinerary. This should include travel arrangements, directions, information about meals and activities, head counts and an agenda.
• Have a backup venue in case of bad weather. You don’t want to have to scramble at the last minute for an alternate site.
• Plan activities. “In-person retreats offer the opportunity for different types of team-building games and challenges, brainstorming sessions, or creative group classes like cooking or yoga,” writes Betterton. “Virtual or hybrid retreats have to accommodate your employees’ home technology setups. Remember to test any digital platforms if you plan to host virtual events.”
• Have a goal in mind. What is the purpose of the retreat? To encourage team bonding? To come up with ways to grow the practice? Choose activities that reinforce those goals.
• Communicate expectations. Tell attendees why they are going to the retreat and what they will be expected to do when they get there. Let them know about the accommodations, meals, and reimbursement policies for travel and food.
• Make it fun. Everyone loves goodie bags and swag. Go the extra mile. Betterton recommends: “new company attire, employees’ favorite snacks, and fun personalized items they can use during and after the retreat. Decorate your space in your brand colors or bring a Polaroid-style camera for easy memory-making. Use the photos for social media — either to showcase your team or use them in a talent attraction and retention campaign.”
• Be present for your team. Don’t multi-task while there. Be focused and fully present. Also: be flexible. Don’t freak out if things don’t get exactly as planned.
• Follow up. “When the retreat comes to an end, send a post-retreat survey to make next year’s event even better,” writes Betterton.

Source: U.S. Chamber of Commerce

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