Business of Law
- Raphael Jucobin
- Tuesday 07th December
- 2 min read
The Business of Law programme is a component of the Professional Skills Course which looks to develop the key skills that a trainee solicitor should need, all within the framework of the modules already on offer as part of the course.
The University of Law has developed this aspect of its programme in conjunction with law firms, identifying four Business of Law areas which cover the competencies required of a trainee - Business, Law, Self and Working with others. These are intended for you to pick out over the course of the PSC programme and take on board as you return to your legal placement at the end of the 12 days.
Business
This aspect will focus primarily on the all-important commercial awareness that you’ll be developing in your legal training and putting to practice in your work experience placement. You’ll gain a greater understanding of the market in which your firm operates and the ways in which it remains competitive within it.
Through this, you’ll learn about what’s needed to develop this strategy and how you could contribute to molding it yourself. In addition, you’ll also look at how you can deliver work projects more efficiently, with better technical accuracy and
Law
Although by the time you embark on the Professional Skills Course you’ll have the bulk of your academic learning behind you, it’s important to realise that there’s still a breadth of legal knowledge for you to pick up as you make your first steps in the profession.
Here, you’ll learn how to apply that knowledge into a professional context and take the initiative for your development as a solicitor, all the while keeping in mind that as a trainee you can always ask a more experienced colleague.
Self
This facet of the Business of Law competencies is about developing your own personal skills as a professional - this means your general organisational skills, time management, and your ability to reflect on the work you’ve done.
Working with others
In any professional environment, being able to work in a team is a key skill that will serve you well for the rest of your career and help you to complete projects effectively and forge new relationships. This means reaching out and working with colleagues from across your firm and developing your skills with regards to communication, so that you can effectively get your ideas across to a group as well as being receptive to any feedback and suggestions.