Planning a team building day for a group of lawyers is no easy task. It needs to be a valuable use of time, it needs to be engaging enough to get even the most sceptical team members on board, and it needs to deliver considerable value to the team dynamics.
In this guide, we’re exploring some of the team building activities you might consider in order to engage your team and encourage them to recognise the diverse skills offered by their colleagues.
It’s easy to get into the habit of being all-business in your place of work, and this can lead some people to forget that they work with multifaceted individuals. Let your teams get to know each other on a personal level by introducing team building exercises into the workplace.
Here are some suggestions that will help to bring lawyers out of their shells and work collaboratively with their colleagues.
Mock trials
A common team building exercise of lawyers is to host a mock trial and encourage everyone to play their part. Keep it light and fun by putting a fairy tale character on trial, such as Goldilocks. The prosecution can act on behalf of the three bears and the defence team will represent Goldilocks in her breaking and entering trial.
This is a great way to on-board younger members of the team and encourage junior lawyers to learn from more senior members of the team. It’s playful and also encourages individuals to take on different roles and get to know members of the team they might not usually work with.
Escape rooms
Put their skills of deduction to the test with an escape room team building experience. Split up the lawyers into teams and set them loose in an escape room. They will have to look for clues, solve brain teasers and follow the signs that lead them to the exit.
Make sure you mix up the teams so that people get to interact with people they might not work very closely with. You should also mix up a range of skill sets to ensure the teams are evenly mixed.
Escape rooms make an interesting challenge for lawyers as it is commonly said that you need common sense and not intellectual capacity to succeed in an escape room. It’s possible to overthink the situation and miss the point of the challenge. It takes real team work to be able to meet the challenge head on.
Charity bike ride
Some teams prefer a physical challenge to bring them together. A charity bike ride is a great way to encourage excellent work/life balance, as individuals will need to train for the event. This will mean that they have to get away from the office, leave their work behind and get on the saddle.
Those who love their job will still be able to turn this into a valuable networking opportunity, or they might use it as a chance to switch off from work and enjoy some physical activity. Raising money for charity can also help to unite teams and encourage teamwork, particularly if they are competing to raise the most money.
Community gardening
Getting back to the earth is an empowering way to build teams. Conversations will flow as everyone engages with the task at hand, allowing individuals from all corners of your organisation to work together towards a common goal.
Community gardening is not only great for mental health, it’s also great for the community. There’s no shortage of projects you can get involved in, with many volunteer groups calling out for eager participants to help tame wild gardens, plant trees and transform spaces.
This type of team building project is non-competitive and accessible for most people, but some members of your team may need support to be able to participate.
Final thoughts
Planning a team building day for lawyers presents some unique challenges, but this isn’t a reason to shy away from the task. Think carefully about the different personalities present within your teams and how you can plan an activity that allows everyone to shine. Remember that the purpose of a team building day is to give everyone the chance to bond without the pressure of work commitments, so try to keep things fun and engaging.
