Overview
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery has welcomed former litigation partner Jocelyn Francoeur back to the Firm in a new role as global director of professional development.
Jocelyn returns to the Firm following seven years at the prestigious Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, where she most recently served as Assistant Dean and Dean of 1L Students, overseeing all aspects of the first-year law school experience.
“We are excited to welcome back Jocelyn as our new professional development lead,” said Kathleen Pearson, McDermott’s global chief talent officer. “This role embodies our commitment to aligning our lawyers’ professional growth with strategic goals, driving our vision of continuous innovation as a best-in-class career accelerant.”
In her new position, Jocelyn will lead the Firm’s professional development team and shape the global approach to talent growth. Her work will include developing tailored programs for lawyers and designing comprehensive orientation programs for new associates and partners, along with collaborating closely with the Firm’s practice groups; leadership teams; human resources management; Justice, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion team; recruiting teams; and other stakeholders to regularly assess substantive learning needs.
During her previous tenure at McDermott, Jocelyn successfully tried civil and criminal cases and argued federal appeals as an associate and partner in the Litigation Practice Group. She later became the Firm’s pro bono and community service partner, leading pro bono, community service and charitable giving initiatives. In that role, Jocelyn collaborated with nonprofit organizations on legal clinics, community service events and other social impact opportunities, overseeing an annual contribution of more than 75,000 pro bono and community service hours.
“I am delighted to return to McDermott,” said Jocelyn. “Cultivating lawyers’ professional growth has always been a passion of mine, and it’s meaningful to have the opportunity to build a culture of continuous learning at the place where I started my own legal career. I look forward to rejoining former colleagues, meeting the many new lawyers and staff professionals who contribute to McDermott’s outstanding culture, and working with the excellent professional development team to make an impact.”
About McDermott
McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Our team works seamlessly across practices and industries to deliver highly effective solutions that propel success. More than 1,400 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.
