Dentons signage Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM

Dentons is launching a modernized training contract with a greater focus on legal project management and innovation.

Speaking with The American Lawyer affiliate Legal Week in December 2019 about the year ahead, Jeremy Cohen, Dentons' chief executive officer for the U.K. and Middle East, said,"Over the next few months we will be launching a modernized training contract which will include a greater emphasis on legal project management and innovation to help trainees develop business acumen at a much earlier stage in their careers."

The firm is the latest to look at reforming its training program, and comes as law firms place more emphasis on business development skills and technology.

Last year Reed Smith created a new innovation seat as part of its London training contract program.

In 2018, Clifford Chance launched a training contract focused on legal technology in an effort to build up junior lawyers' skills in areas such as fintech, artificial intelligence and coding.