Bite-size training

Background

The dilemma facing most training and development managers is that they have to balance the competency gaps of the lawyers with the real-world pressure on fee-earners time. This is compounded by most lawyers’ disdain for training, and the ability to cancel scheduled training commitments at short notice.

That’s why we have developed “bite-sized training” for law firms, to address these issues:

"The training wasn't relevant"

Each session has an accompanying 10 item questionnaire so that the individual lawyer can decide whether s/he should attend the programme. The questions are linked to the learning outcomes of the session, so by attending the course the lawyer WILL address the areas covered by the questionnaire.

The training sessions are run by people who have real-world experience of the subjects covered. For example the sales sessions are delivered by someone with experience of selling within professional services, the leadership sessions by someone who has led in a partnership environment. The trainers have credibility and gravitas.

The sessions are also designed to allow delegates to work on their real-life problems – whether their own current to-do list or a particular client they want to get more work from. Material is designed to deliver key ideas in practical ways that allow immediate implementation and measurable results.
The training materials can be tailored to make sure that the terminology is correct for your firm; titles are correct, and departments, teams and management groups will have the correct nomenclature.

"I didn't learn anything"

The pre-course questionnaire gives a frank overview of the subjects covered, so delegates are clear on the subject matter and the level at which it will be covered – from big picture overview to minor detail tips and tricks.

The same pre-course questionnaire can be used 3 months later to gauge what the individual attendee says s/he now says about his/her competency in the areas covered in the programme.

The sessions promote word-of-mouth recommendations. Being short and pragmatic means that the lawyers’ return on investment is quickly realised, and more lawyers tend to attend subsequent programmes.

"The training was long"

Each session is just 100 minutes. Because it is so short, the session is focused and punchy – no lengthy delegate introductions, and no irrelevant time-filling. A great deal can, however, be covered in 100 minutes including working on real-life problems and skills development.

The 100 minute format allows four separate sessions per day - and you choose the topics. This means that a diverse range of subject can be covered in one day, allowing the maximum number of lawyers to experience training in areas they believe are important, whilst keeping the cost per delegate down.

"It wasn't worth the money"

Because the sessions require only minor modification for each firm, there are no design costs involved. Thus a day containing 4 sessions (for example time management, building a professional network, project management and giving feedback) costs just £2000 + VAT plus travel expenses. There are reductions should you require just 2 or 3 sessions in a day.

Assuming just 12 lawyers attend each session (and we can accommodate up to 20), the cost per lawyer session is about £50/head. By minimising the time spent away from fee-earning we are also making corresponding savings on chargeable hours.

Next >> Examples of bite-size training