Armstrong Teasdale Wins IDEA Award from ALA for Passport Program

Armstrong Teasdale has won an Innovation, Development, Engagement and Advancement (IDEA) Award from the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) for our “Build Your Passport Program!” The IDEA Awards recognize “unique programs, services and events that improve the legal community and advance the business of law.” ALA also created a video about the program, which you can watch here. 

The Passport Program started in 2013 after the firm’s marketing department became aware that young associates needed to find a way to get to know partners and senior associates better but were at a loss for ways to make acquaintances on other floors of our offices. At stake for these young lawyers was their ability to build relationships with the firm’s rainmakers and receive the types of assignments, referrals and cross selling opportunities necessary for them to get on partnership track. 

Marketing manager Jamie Windsor came up with the solution after she attended a program that discussed a speed networking activity for meeting people. Jamie then came up with the idea of applying that concept to our firm, and the Passport Program was born! This innovative program gives associates a reason to contact key lawyers within the firm and creates a structure in which they can arrange casual meetings in a comfortable and non-threatening environment. Since its inception, five successful sessions with a total of 95 participants have taken place.