The Business of Law

Working with law firms, The College of Law has identified a set of key competencies that all trainee solicitors need in practice. The competencies are broken down into four areas – Business, Law, Self, and Working with Others and the Business of Law programme ensures that these are clearly identified in all PSC modules, both core and elective, so that trainee solicitors, and their firms, can easily see which essential competencies will be taken back to the work place.

Key benefits

  • Makes the trainee perfect for practice by relating what they have learnt in the classroom to key competencies expected in the real world of law.
  • Not just teaching the law, but helping with personal and career development as a self-reliant and client focused modern lawyer.
  • Helps to identify and evidence skills and competencies that will be required in their training contract and throughout their career.
  • Helps develop and focus on the skills leading law firms tell us they are looking for.
  • This programme is unique to the College and gives trainees and their employers a competitive edge in working with customers and colleagues.

Business of Law competencies – categories

Business

Business Development

  • Shows awareness of market and competitor activity
  • Is aware of the firm’s business development strategy
  • Assists in business development tasks where required
  • Is aware of the skills and techniques required for effective business development

Client Relationships

  • Meets client expectations for trainee role performed on fee-earning matters when direct client interaction is appropriate
  • Shows understanding of clients’ service expectations
  • Makes an effort to empathise with client culture and to understand client organisation, structure and business drivers
  • Develops rapport with members of client team at equivalent level

Commerciality

  • Understands what services are provided by the firm
  • Understands the commercial environment within which clients work and the need for advice to be tailored to that environment
  • So far as appropriate to client base, shows an understanding of multicultural issues and business practices
  • Delivers a work product that is commercially as well as technically sound
  • Meets deadline commitments to clients
  • Is aware of the significance of work in progress, and proactively manages own WIP
  • Records chargeable time accurately

Law

Technical competence

  • Undertakes research tasks competently, using appropriate technology and information resources
  • Manages own fee-earning matters competently
  • Understands limits of own competence and when to obtain advice within the firm 
  • Demonstrates problem-solving capability

Development

  • Develops professional skills and technical ability, keeping up to date with current legal issues
  • Takes responsibility for own learning and development

Self

Commitment

  • Delivers work product with enthusiasm, tenaciousness and attention to detail, and whether the task is challenging or mundane
  • Shows determination to help meet clients’ objectives
  • Takes ownership of tasks
  • Shows willingness to take on additional tasks

Managing Self

  • Is resilient under pressure
  • Is organised and demonstrates high capacity for work
  • Is self-aware and reflects on own performance
  • Does not exhibit self-importance

Professional responsibility

  • Shows awareness of professional conduct responsibilities under Code of Conduct.
  • Adheres to the firm’s policies, including on professional conduct and risk management

Development

  • Is open to constructive feedback and advice
  • Learns from mistakes
  • Is willing to develop new skills and capabilities

Working with others

Team-working

  • Builds constructive professional relationships, treating colleagues at all levels with civility and respect
  • Contributes to any team in which the trainee is involved
  • Reports appropriately to supervisors
  • Acknowledges task contributions of colleagues
  • Responds to colleagues and supervisors in a timely manner
  • Shows flexibility and versatility

Communication

  • Communicates orally and in writing in a way that is logical, articulate, concise, and tailored to the needs of the recipient (whether internal or external)
  • Shares information appropriately when undertaking work tasks