DAWLAW 2018 Short Course Series
The following outlines a series of short course programmes (nominally 3 hrs) aimed at meeting the new SRA Competency Framework for Qualified Solicitors. While ‘pitched’ at the SRA’s Level 3 (newly qualified) they represent a useful refresher for more senior practitioners and most titles are of value for all fee-earners / paralegal staff. Some, like the one addressing the 'client relationship' are also very useful for client facing support staff.[The Course Number aligns with the SRA Framework in your DAW CPD Resource Pack]
Each title has been developed to be a practical application - not mere theoretical rhetoric. You can pick and mix to suit your people's needs and every attendee will be able to:
1 Ethics and Professionalism: are they ALL ‘squeaky clean’?
OK, so your qualified solicitors know and abide by the rules but compliance is more than that: it’s a team approach. This half day outlines a straightforward method to helping all client facing staff assess themselves against a professional standard and goes on to illustrate a cost effective solution to help those in need of a refresher to make sure your COLP has nothing to do!
The content includes an understanding of what the SRA Code of Conduct means for all client facing staff drawing on practical case scenarios bringing the subject to life in a realistic, everyday way. For full content and learning outcomes: contact us
2 Critical Thinking: Applying critical thinking to solve problems
Helping professional staff to build trust in client relationships requires a heightened awareness in the application of understanding, critical thinking and analysis to solve client problems. This half-day course shows you how to help staff analyse where they are now and gives clear pointers to help people enhance their skills in this key area.
The content includes recognising Unconscious Bias, Historical Judgement, Communications, Questioning bias, Presentations, Decision-making and Risk. For full content and learning outcomes: contact us
3 Learning How to Learn: a practical guide to L&D
‘The only sustainable competitive advantage is the ability to learn faster than the competition’. Not much has changed, then, since Tom Peters said that in the 1980’s. So, how well do your people learn? While the reflective approach to CPD has been with the legal profession for a while, are we missing a trick or two when exploring opportunities to learn? This half-day course takes a fresh look at learning styles and what they mean for you in practice at work.
We use the classic Learning Styles Questionnaire as pre-work and naturally lead people to the whole gamut of work-placed learning and development opportunities appropriate to each individual. For full content and learning outcomes: contact us
6 Negotiations Skills: not just for litigators
The ability to negotiate effectively is one of the most admired skills in the profession but what are the core concepts? This whole day programme looks at this key competency and how practitioners can sharpen their skills to achieve better outcomes. Just enough theory is used to back-up plenty of varied, practical real-world negotiating situations.
The full day content explores individuals’ approach to conflict management (Thomas & Kilmann), ‘the science of persuasion’ (Robert Cialdini), assertiveness and key communication techniques to exert influence in the most effective way. For full content and learning outcomes: contact us
7a How to Make and Keep a Customer: the ‘client relationship’ competency
Peter Drucker had the customer as central to every business’s purpose and this half day course looks at building and sustaining professional relationships with clients. As every client will tell you: “I don’t care how much you know until I know how much you care”. With a pragmatic approach to client care, dealing with complaints, etc. in today’s professional service sector we also explore the ‘sales’ process to recognise a team approach to winning new clients.
While Client Service concepts are an obvious content, ‘Sales Mastery’ features and is, for many training providers, relatively unique to the legal sector. For full content and learning outcomes: contact us
7b How to Win Friends and Influence People – at work
Not Dale Carnegie’s seminal text but our pragmatic approach to developing the core skills of building professional relationships with all your work colleagues. This half day explores the key competencies and how people can develop better approaches to getting on with others throughout the firm.
The course focuses on team working, emotional intelligence, transactional analysis, and conflict management in a practical way. For full content and learning outcomes: contact us
8 Speak Loudly and Slowly!
(N.B. There is more to communicating effectively)
Why do so many people shout English slowly at a Spanish waiter hoping he will instinctively know what they want? A communication is not what we say but what they understand so this set of competencies is a must for all professionals. The half day will explore some common communications erors (sic) and what we can do about them. It will help people seek to be understood rather than force others to understand!
Key content looks at personal development for both spoken and written communications. For full content and learning outcomes: contact us
9 How to Cope with Work!
While we can be so busy getting on with ‘stuff’ it will be worth taking just half a day to explore whether we are working hard – only not as effectively as we might. This is not an irritating ‘work smarter’ course but a pragmatic approach to ‘clearing the swamp while we are up to our butts in crocodiles’!
Content looks at Productivity and Time Management (naturally enough) but stress and project management concepts are also included. For full content and learning outcomes: contact us
10 Apply good business practice: it’s what we are here for!
Ask any solicitor what the purpose of their business is and they will all have that ‘profit’ word towards the top of their list. So, why do profitable firms fail? What is a balanced score card and why is that important? In a half day we explore the core skills for every practitioner and show how they can apply them in practice.
Content explains the importance of both WiP and billing feeding cash flow and demonstrates each fee-earner’s contribution to the firm’s prosperity. For full content and learning outcomes: contact us
Each half day session is £750 + VAT. Run two sessions in one day (or the full day Negotiating Skills Course) and the price drops to a day rate of £1250 + VAT.
Each title has been developed to be a practical application - not mere theoretical rhetoric. You can pick and mix to suit your people's needs and every attendee will be able to:
- Review their current attainment against the defined SRA standard
- Gain useful insights on how to make a demonstrable improvement to their performance
- Add to their personal development plan
- Know how to apply their learning in the workplace
1 Ethics and Professionalism: are they ALL ‘squeaky clean’?
OK, so your qualified solicitors know and abide by the rules but compliance is more than that: it’s a team approach. This half day outlines a straightforward method to helping all client facing staff assess themselves against a professional standard and goes on to illustrate a cost effective solution to help those in need of a refresher to make sure your COLP has nothing to do!
The content includes an understanding of what the SRA Code of Conduct means for all client facing staff drawing on practical case scenarios bringing the subject to life in a realistic, everyday way. For full content and learning outcomes: contact us
2 Critical Thinking: Applying critical thinking to solve problems
Helping professional staff to build trust in client relationships requires a heightened awareness in the application of understanding, critical thinking and analysis to solve client problems. This half-day course shows you how to help staff analyse where they are now and gives clear pointers to help people enhance their skills in this key area.
The content includes recognising Unconscious Bias, Historical Judgement, Communications, Questioning bias, Presentations, Decision-making and Risk. For full content and learning outcomes: contact us
3 Learning How to Learn: a practical guide to L&D
‘The only sustainable competitive advantage is the ability to learn faster than the competition’. Not much has changed, then, since Tom Peters said that in the 1980’s. So, how well do your people learn? While the reflective approach to CPD has been with the legal profession for a while, are we missing a trick or two when exploring opportunities to learn? This half-day course takes a fresh look at learning styles and what they mean for you in practice at work.
We use the classic Learning Styles Questionnaire as pre-work and naturally lead people to the whole gamut of work-placed learning and development opportunities appropriate to each individual. For full content and learning outcomes: contact us
6 Negotiations Skills: not just for litigators
The ability to negotiate effectively is one of the most admired skills in the profession but what are the core concepts? This whole day programme looks at this key competency and how practitioners can sharpen their skills to achieve better outcomes. Just enough theory is used to back-up plenty of varied, practical real-world negotiating situations.
The full day content explores individuals’ approach to conflict management (Thomas & Kilmann), ‘the science of persuasion’ (Robert Cialdini), assertiveness and key communication techniques to exert influence in the most effective way. For full content and learning outcomes: contact us
7a How to Make and Keep a Customer: the ‘client relationship’ competency
Peter Drucker had the customer as central to every business’s purpose and this half day course looks at building and sustaining professional relationships with clients. As every client will tell you: “I don’t care how much you know until I know how much you care”. With a pragmatic approach to client care, dealing with complaints, etc. in today’s professional service sector we also explore the ‘sales’ process to recognise a team approach to winning new clients.
While Client Service concepts are an obvious content, ‘Sales Mastery’ features and is, for many training providers, relatively unique to the legal sector. For full content and learning outcomes: contact us
7b How to Win Friends and Influence People – at work
Not Dale Carnegie’s seminal text but our pragmatic approach to developing the core skills of building professional relationships with all your work colleagues. This half day explores the key competencies and how people can develop better approaches to getting on with others throughout the firm.
The course focuses on team working, emotional intelligence, transactional analysis, and conflict management in a practical way. For full content and learning outcomes: contact us
8 Speak Loudly and Slowly!
(N.B. There is more to communicating effectively)
Why do so many people shout English slowly at a Spanish waiter hoping he will instinctively know what they want? A communication is not what we say but what they understand so this set of competencies is a must for all professionals. The half day will explore some common communications erors (sic) and what we can do about them. It will help people seek to be understood rather than force others to understand!
Key content looks at personal development for both spoken and written communications. For full content and learning outcomes: contact us
9 How to Cope with Work!
While we can be so busy getting on with ‘stuff’ it will be worth taking just half a day to explore whether we are working hard – only not as effectively as we might. This is not an irritating ‘work smarter’ course but a pragmatic approach to ‘clearing the swamp while we are up to our butts in crocodiles’!
Content looks at Productivity and Time Management (naturally enough) but stress and project management concepts are also included. For full content and learning outcomes: contact us
10 Apply good business practice: it’s what we are here for!
Ask any solicitor what the purpose of their business is and they will all have that ‘profit’ word towards the top of their list. So, why do profitable firms fail? What is a balanced score card and why is that important? In a half day we explore the core skills for every practitioner and show how they can apply them in practice.
Content explains the importance of both WiP and billing feeding cash flow and demonstrates each fee-earner’s contribution to the firm’s prosperity. For full content and learning outcomes: contact us
Each half day session is £750 + VAT. Run two sessions in one day (or the full day Negotiating Skills Course) and the price drops to a day rate of £1250 + VAT.
- No travelling expenses charged - they are included - wherever you are
- Workbook, presentation materials and case studies included
- We can help you promote the course internally at no extra charge
- Sessions can run morning, afternoon or over mid-day at your venue
