Developing Attorneys for the Future: What Can We Learn From the Fast Trackers?

Leaders in law firms tend to be those attorneys who thrive in a law firm environment from the beginning—successful associates who become successful partners. Later, they are asked to be the leaders of practice areas, committees and, ultimately, part of senior management. While high-performing associates may not be formally promoted to leadership positions for some time, it is important to understand what makes them—as young associates—stand out from their peers. Who are these future leaders, and what qualities predict their advancement in a law firm environment? These are the questions we set out to explore. To date, little empirical work exists on the characteristics and behaviors of high-potential associates—how to recognize them from the beginning and how to develop them. Instead, law students continue to be hired most commonly based on the law school they attended and their GPA, under the assumption that law school and GPA are related to future performance as an attorney. Transcript and resume review are typically accompanied by a series of 30-minute interviews consisting of questions that vary from candidate to candidate. Consequently, hiring decisions result from a combination of the reputation of the law school attended, GPA, and the interviewing partners’ gut feeling

The duality of bias: Predictors of racially motivated Differential Test Functioning in interview evaluations

Despite continued interest in and research on discrimination, the complex nature of the process through which it emerges has not been adequately explored. In the current study, I assessed racially-motivated Differential Test Functioning (DTF) and its drivers in an interview context. Specifically, I investigated patterns of DTF-for, DTF-against, and no DTF across three studies. Moreover, I predicted five patterns of responding using in-group belonging (rater race and ethnic identity), prejudice, and motivation to hide prejudice. Results indicate that patterns of responding indicative of DTF-against blacks, DTF-against whites, and no DTF emerged in both student and adult samples. Additionally, in-group belonging and a motivation to hide prejudice appear to predict bias-against, whereas a low in-group belonging may result in no DTF. Implications for research and practice are discussed

Virtually a Leader: Mitigating Process Losses through Shared Team States

Research on virtual teams reveals that virtual teams do not operate in the same way as non-virtual teams. Despite increasing interest in this field, virtuality's impact on teams through an integrated IPO framework has yet to be assessed. The current study addresses this limitation by examining how virtuality impacts shared team states, and, subsequently, how shared team states impact communication, and how communication impacts outcomes. Further, this study investigated the role leadership plays in reducing process losses encountered by virtual teams. Results indicate that virtuality impacts the formation of shared team states, and leadership moderates this relationship, but in an unexpected direction. Shared team states were not found to contribute to communication, and communication did not predict outcomes. However, virtuality was found to directly affect communication, and the interaction between virtuality and leadership affected outcomes. Implications for research and practice are discussed

"Post-GDM support would be really good for mothers": A qualitative interview study exploring how to support a healthy diet and physical activity after gestational diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). They are therefore recommended to follow a healthy diet and be physically active in order to reduce that risk. However, achieving and maintaining these behaviours in the postpartum period is challenging. This study sought to explore women's views on suggested practical approaches to achieve and maintain a healthy diet and physical activity to reduce T2DM risk. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with 20 participants in Cambridgeshire, UK were conducted at three to 48 months after GDM. The participants' current diet and physical activity, intentions for any changes, and views on potential interventions to help manage T2DM risk through these behaviours were discussed. Framework analysis was used to analyse the transcripts. The interview schedule, suggested interventions, and thematic framework were based on a recent systematic review. RESULTS: Most of the participants wanted to eat more healthily and be more active. A third of the participants considered that postpartum support for these behaviours would be transformative, a third thought it would be beneficial, and a third did not want additional support. The majority agreed that more information about the impact of diet and physical activity on diabetes risk, support to exercise with others, and advice about eating healthily, exercising with a busy schedule, monitoring progress and sustaining changes would facilitate a healthy diet and physical activity. Four other suggested interventions received mixed responses. It would be acceptable for this support to be delivered throughout pregnancy and postpartum through a range of formats. Clinicians were seen to have important roles in giving or signposting to support. CONCLUSIONS: Many women would appreciate more support to reduce their T2DM risk after GDM and believe that a variety of interventions to integrate changes into their daily lives would help them to sustain healthier lifestyles.RAD was funded by a PhD studentship from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) School for Primary Care Research (SPCR; SPCR-S-S102). This paper presents independent research funded by the NIHR SPCR. The views expressed are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR, the NHS or the Department of Health. JAUS was funded by a Cancer Research UK Cancer Prevention Fellowship (C55650/A21464). SJG is supported by the Medical Research Council (MC_UU_12015/4). The University of Cambridge has received salary support in respect of SJG from the NHS in the East of England through the Clinical Academic Reserve. CEA is supported by an Action Medical Research Grant (GN2778) and a Medical Research Council New Investigator Research Grant (MR/T016701/1). CLM is supported by the Diabetes UK Harry Keen Intermediate Clinical Fellowship (DUK-HKF 17/0005712) and the European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes – Novo Nordisk Foundation Future Leaders’ Award (NNF19SA058974). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

‘Oh, I’ve got an appointment’: A qualitative interview study exploring how to support attendance at diabetes screening after gestational diabetes

Funder: NIHR School for Primary Care Research; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013374Funder: Cancer Research UK; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000289Funder: Action Medical Research; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000317Funder: European Foundation for the Study of Diabetes; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001648Funder: Medical Research Council; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000265Funder: Diabetes UK; Id: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100000361Abstract: Aims: To explore the views of women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) on suggested practical approaches to support diabetes screening attendance after GDM, which is recommended but poorly attended. Methods: We conducted semi‐structured interviews with 20 participants in Cambridgeshire, UK who had been diagnosed with GDM and were 3–48 months postpartum. Interviews covered whether participants had been screened and why, plans for future screening and their views on potential interventions to facilitate attendance (at the first postpartum test and annual testing). Framework analysis was used to analyse the transcripts. The interview schedule, suggested interventions and thematic framework were based on a recent systematic review. Results: Sixteen participants had undergone screening since pregnancy, explaining that they had an appointment arranged and wanted reassurance that they did not have diabetes. The participants who had not been tested were not aware that it was recommended. Only 13 had planned to attend subsequent tests at the start of the interview. Eight themes to support future attendance were discussed. The majority of the participants agreed that changing the processes for arranging tests, offering choice in test location and combining appointments would facilitate attendance. Child‐friendly clinics, more opportunities to understand GDM and the role of postpartum testing, stopping self‐testing and increasing their GP’s awareness of their pregnancy received inconsistent feedback. The nature of the test used did not appear to influence attendance. Conclusions: The participants wanted to be screened for diabetes after GDM. We have identified interventions that could be relatively simply incorporated into routine practice to facilitate screening attendance, such as flexibility in the appointment location or time and sending invitations for tests

Research data supporting the DAiSIeS study (Diet, Activity and Screening after gestational diabetes: an Interview Study)

This entry relates to data collected as part of the DAiSIeS study to inform strategies to improve care for mothers after a pregnancy affected by gestational diabetes in relation to risk of type 2 diabetes after delivery. The dataset is the pseudo-anonymised transcripts from the qualitative interviews as part of the study. Consent was given by participants to share anonymised data with other responsible researchers. As consent was not given to share publicly it is not possible to add the data to the repository. Instead, the data are stored within the Primary Care Unit and researchers can request access by contacting Dr Rebecca Dennison ([email protected]) or [email protected]. Applicants will be required to complete a Data Access Agreement that will indicate the criteria for data access and conditions for research use and will incorporate privacy and confidentiality standards to ensure data security. The schedule used for the qualitative interviews as part of the study is attached with this record