What is the Business of Law?
- Robert Greene
- Tuesday 07th December
- 2 min read
If you study the Professional Skills Course (PSC) with the University of Law (the leading provider of the PSC), you will come across the Business of Law programme. In this article, we look at what the Business of Law is.
What is the Business of Law?
The University of Law has worked with clients to identify four key competencies that trainee solicitors require in practice: Business, Law, Self, and Working with Others.
The Business of Law programme integrates these four competencies into The University of Law’s PSC offering. This means that as well as completing your three core modules and four electives, you will also develop key skills that employers are looking for.
The competencies appear in the course descriptor when booking a module online. The idea of the descriptor is to help you choose the module that is most appropriate to you and to see which of the four Business of Law competencies is covered.
What are the Business of Law competencies?
Business
Commercial awareness is a buzzword that you have undoubtedly come across. Solicitors cannot practice the law in isolation. They must understand and keep on top of developments in the business and commercial world.
The Business competency helps future solicitors develop their commercial awareness by focusing on business development, commerciality, and client relationships.
Law firms are businesses in their own right and solicitors are expected to understand their clients’ sectors and offer commercially savvy advice, identify and capitalise on opportunities to win new business, and market themselves and their firms effectively.
Electives such as The Law Firm as a Commercial Enterprise, Company Formation, Management and Share Capital, and Client-Focused Technology and Management of Disruptive Technologies are just a handful of the electives available to delegates that focus on developing the Business competency.
Law
Of course, every lawyer must know the law! The PSC is the final, compulsory part of training required before being admitted as a solicitor. It offers delegates an opportunity to develop their legal expertise and skills.
The Law competency focuses on black-letter law and technical competence. Delegates have the opportunity to choose modules which zero in on areas of law of interest. In particular, the Contentious Skills Electives and Non-Contentious Skills Electives allow trainees develop specialist knowledge in different areas of law.
Commercial Property - Sale and Purchase Transactions, Drafting IP Licences, and Wills Trusts and Tax are examples of some of the electives which focus on the Law competency.
Self
Being able to manage your emotions and desires, having an awareness of your strengths and weaknesses, and taking ownership of your successes and failures, are all key attributes of a successful solicitor.
The Self competency helps delegates become well-rounded solicitors, focusing on self-management, professional responsibility, and self-development.
Being a Resilient Lawyer, Impact & Influence, and Creating Problem-Solving and Emotional Intelligence in the Age of Automation are some of the electives which develop the Self competency.
Working with Others
No man is an island, or no law firm for that matter. Being able to work effectively as part of a team, be it across departments, jurisdictions, or firms, is an essential part of succeeding as a solicitor.
The Working with Others competency is concerned with effective teamwork and communication skills. Delegates will learn how to develop their client and working relationships, and to communicate effectively with people from all walks of life.
Coaching Skills for Lawyers, Consultancy Skills for Lawyers, and Advanced Communication Skills are among the elective and core modules available that develop the Working with Others competency.