To continue to add value to a Practice a Solicitor’s skill set needs to broaden as seniority is gained.  The necessary skills however are not innate and rarely learned by osmosis.  LNT recognises this and provides suitable training interventions linked to each developmental stage.

Assistants/Associates

 Tactical Negotiation Skills (3-4 hours)

 

Most solicitors engage in negotiations on a frequent basis but do so without the benefit of a solid frame of reference and associated surety of direction.   Legal Network Training’s Tactical Negotiation Skills course provides a well defined model that assists solicitors to clarify their thinking, remove uncertainty and proceed with assurance during even the most intense back and forth negotiation process.

A generic brief is used for mixed practice area groups.  This brief has elements of Commercial, Construction and Litigation practice areas. Specialist briefs can be provided for:

• Corporate
• Commercial
• Property
• Employment

Methodology:

• Sessions are “workshops” i.e. practical and hands-on
• Sessions are lean and well targeted to maximise value and minimise lost fee earning opportunities

Recommended group size is 12.

Drafting Skills (2×2 hours)

Skill in drafting is at the heart of the legal profession and is its key “product”.  As such it:

• is essential to meet client needs (defining client’s negotiating position, rights, liabilities and obligations)
• impacts on all written communication
• portrays professionalism
• attracts work (perceived ability to understand and document complex issues or transactions).

This course examines drafting through an examination of business writing skills and drafting considerations.

Methodology:

• Sessions are “workshops” i.e. practical and hands-on
• This course runs over 2 sessions of 2 hours each. A drafting exercise will be set during Session 1, completed by participants between sessions and assessed – with feedback being provided during Session 2
• Sessions are lean and well targeted to maximise value and minimise lost fee earning opportunities

Recommended group size is 12.

Time Management (2 hours)

Time Management is intrinsically linked to billing, career prospects and stress levels.  Being able to manage time well is therefore a critical skill.  This course starts from the perspective that in the legal environment there are 3 key stakeholders in an individual’s efforts to manage time – the Client, the Firm and themselves

Methodology:

• This session runs for 2 hours to minimise disruption to the working day
• Sessions are “workshops” i.e. practical and hands-on
• Sessions are lean and well targeted to maximise value and minimise lost fee earning opportunities.

Recommended group size is 12.

Stress Management (2 hours)

To perform to their peek solicitors need to be effective stress managers.  This course starts from the perspective that the legal environment produces its own unique stress factors.  These are examined and strategies to cope with these presented

Methodology:

• This session runs for 2 hours to minimise disruption to the working day
• Sessions are “workshops” i.e. practical and hands-on
• Sessions are lean and well targeted to maximise value and minimise lost fee earning opportunities.

Recommended group size is 12.

Working Productively with Your Secretary (2 hours)

The objective of this session is to enhance and optimise the internal client relationship skills between fee earners and their secretarial support staff.  It is suitable for fee earners at all levels who have a genuine desire to improve their current working relationships in this regard.

Methodology:

• This session runs for 2 hours to minimise disruption to the working day
• Sessions are “workshops” i.e. practical and hands-on
• Sessions are lean and well targeted to maximise value and minimise lost fee earning opportunities.

Recommended group size is 12.

 

Partner/Associate

Associate Transition Programme

 

The Associate grade is expected to start to contribute to the Firm as a business rather than simply through the execution of technical legal skill.  Frequently Associates do not have the skills or training to adequately fulfil the heightened expectations.  The Associate Transition Programme fills this gap through focussing on providing skills in the following disciplines:

People Management Sessions 1-3 (6 hours total)

Associates are expected to take responsibility for managing transactions/cases and the teams associated.  As such they need to demonstrate skills in managing people and relationships.  People Management Skills Days 1-3 explores the reality of management in the legal environment, the critical role of clear and appropriate communications, how to gain the best result for themselves and the team through use of motivation, delegation and coaching plus the critical skill of managing upwards.

Transaction/Case Management (3 hours)

Transactions/Cases are rarely executed in isolation.  Leading a team and understanding how teams operate and are motivated is crucial to achieving a successful outcome.  The starting point for the Transaction/Case Management sessions therefore is an examination of team work in the Legal environment and the principles of team leadership.

Too frequently Transactions/Cases are commenced with no thought to planning and structure.  As a consequence time is wasted and fees written off.  Transaction/Case Management seeks to avoid the pitfalls by applying well tested project management methodologies to the legal environment.

 

Influencing Skills (2 hours)

Associates do not hold significant institutional power within their Firms but to progress will need to be able to wield influence.  Influencing Skills deals with identifying who holds the power in the Firm, who are their key influencers and how they in turn can be influenced.  It extends to dealing with difficult people.

Networking Skills 1 & 2 (4 hours)

How often do Firms spend money on conference attendance but fail to turn chit-chat into cash?  Networking skills instils that a proactive planned approach to gaining value from contacts and networking opportunities is vital.  Associates will be taught how to plan their business development, produce a contacts and referrals plan which includes business social media and the key skills of working a room, introductions and building a contact into a referrer.  Participants will learn networking interaction skills in a “safe” environment though role play and feedback.

Methodology:

• Recommended group size is 12.
• Sessions are “workshops” i.e. practical and hands-on
• Sessions can be taken as stand alone as well as part of the broader Associate Transition Programme
• Sessions are lean and well targeted to maximise value and minimise lost fee earning opportunities
• Sessions may have application for some junior Partners who lack formal training and have demonstrated a need for same.

Recommended group size is 12.

 

Partner

Preparing and Presenting Winning Bids (1.5 days)

The means by which law Firms attract new business has changed dramatically in recent years and an increasing amount of work now comes through the process of competitive tendering whether it is public sector or private sector work. Managing the process through every stage is crucial if the Firm is to be successful in securing work this way.  Each part of the process, from the ITT (invitation to tender) arriving on the desk, through to the presentation requires a detailed understanding to guarantee success.  This workshop takes participants through a framework for planning and delivering winning tenders.

Methodology

The course is participative and involves a variety of learning opportunities to ensure participants achieve the objectives of the programme

• Practice in the form of exercises, role-plays & case studies with other participants on the course. Linked to practice is objective feedback provided by the trainer and fellow participants.
• Personal action plans to plan specific steps to integrate learning into participants’ jobs and develop networking skills.

Handling Difficult People (4 Hours)

All Partners will at some stage in their career encounter difficult behaviours that challenge their abilities as people managers and risk undesirable consequences for the Firm.  This half day case study driven course examines 3 such scenarios.

Some best practice recommendations are offered but the core of this course is to encourage Partners to think through the human dimension behind each of these examples and devise practical solutions.

Recommended group size is 12.

Methodology:

• Sessions are “workshops” i.e. practical and hands-on
• Sessions are lean and well targeted to maximise value and minimise lost fee earning opportunities.