Welcome
The reform of legal aid will ultimately require providers to work with the LSC within a more business to business relationship, through tenders for work delivering specific, pre defined, commissioned services as defined by the LSC. Many providers operate in such a way already whilst others have said they want help in changing their approach.
This online training builds on face-to-face training successfully delivered across Bristol, Bridgwater and Manchester in September and October 2009. Although the training was in part developed to support the BVT Pilot, and focuses in some sections quite specifically in understanding the cost of services delivered, the broader principles are good management practice for all providers. Feedback from attendees has overwhelmingly been positive.
The content of the modules is not specifically designed to support participation in the 2010 bid rounds, the focus is on developing businesses in general, a process which in many cases will take a number of years. That said, some providers will pick out opportunities for immediate change and the Financial Skills modules may be of particular immediate interest and application.
The modules have been developed by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as an introduction to a number of key financial and business management principles. Whilst carrying out this work PricewaterhouseCoopers have canvassed the views, opinions and experiences of a number of providers, both via the Provider Reference Groups and throughout the process of developing and delivering the face to face training itself. Where appropriate PricewaterhouseCoopers have also drawn on their very extensive experience of what makes a business successful.
The training content has been developed specifically for the legal aid market, with examples and exercises taken from case studies. Some examples and exercises quote facts and figures on the cost and profitability of carrying out publicly funded work, these figures are given to enable principles to be illustrated. Some of the figures may be familiar from your own experiences, some may not, but they are for illustration only, and all are drawn from providers carrying out legal aid work.
The modules have been designed to give a broad foundation on each subject and aim to provoke thought, highlight areas for business and personal development and provide practical guidance. The modules cannot be a complete guide to the subjects with which they deal, they do, where appropriate cross-refer to further information and additional materials.
The content of the modules cannot be taken as advice either from the Commission or PricewaterhouseCoppers as to the manner in which you should run your business, and the modules each contain a disclaimer accordingly. This is because the extent to which the module content will be relevant, applicable, and useful to you will very much depend on the current state of development of your own business and the extent to which you wish to develop and implement the principles the modules contain.
The terminology used in the modules often relates to the provision of legal services on a commercial basis. That is not to say that the modules are not equally designed to be of value to not for profit agencies. Representatives of a number of agencies attended the face-to-face sessions and found the principles addressed to be extremely valuable. The courses are fundamentally about delivering good services in an efficient and sustainable manner, and despite the terminology used there are issues of central importance to both commercial and not for profit providers alike.
Although the sessions are aimed at those with little or no formal business management training, we received almost universal feedback during the face-to-face phase that the training is equally useful to experienced managers, providing a refresher, or confirming good practice.
The system is open to everyone and free to use, so whether you have no knowledge, a small amount, or even significant experience, there will be something for you in the training.
I hope you find these modules helpful.
- Financial Skills 1 - Crime Providers - Understanding Your Costs Read more
1.5 hours
This course, the first of two financial skills modules, is focussed on giving legal aid providers an introduction to the skills needed to measure, analyse and control their costs.
The course is aimed mainly at small to medium sized legal aid providers who want to improve their understanding of their firm’s cost base in the light of the current changes in the legal profession, including overheads, average hourly costs and capacity. The course also covers how to cost each type of legal work provided and addresses the main key performance indicators used by providers and LSC.
The course is interactive, with worked examples and exercises based on a fictitious law firm’s accounts and real life experiences.
Enrol
A downloadable course guide, containing the content from the on-line module in booklet form, can be accessed by clicking here:
Access Course Guide
- Financial Skills 1 - Civil Providers - Understanding Your Costs Read more
1.5 hours
This course, the first of two financial skills modules, is focussed on giving legal aid providers an introduction to the skills needed to measure, analyse and control their costs.
The course is aimed mainly at small to medium sized legal aid providers who want to improve their understanding of their firm’s cost base in the light of the current changes in the legal profession, including overheads, average hourly costs and capacity. The course also covers how to cost each type of legal work provided and addresses the main key performance indicators used by providers and LSC.
The course is interactive, with worked examples and exercises based on a fictitious law firm’s accounts and real life experiences.
Enrol
A downloadable course guide, containing the content from the on-line module in booklet form, can be accessed by clicking here:
Access Course Guide
- Financial Skills 2 - Profitability Read more
1.5 hours
This course is the second of two financial modules that are focussed on providing legal aid providers with the crucial skills and understanding that is necessary in coping with the current changes in the legal aid profession and the introduction of competitive tendering.
This module is primarily aimed at small to medium sized legal aid providers who want to improve their understanding of how to measure their firm’s profitability, how to achieve a target level of profit and implement a strategy for increasing profitability in the future. The course also covers the importance of cash flow and liquidity.
The course is interactive, with worked examples and exercises based on a fictitious law firm’s accounts and real life experiences.
Enrol
A downloadable course guide, containing the content from the on-line module in booklet form, can be accessed by clicking here:
Access Course Guide
- Alternative Business Structures Read more
1.5 hours
As a result of recent developments in the legislative framework (principally the Legal Services Act 2007), providers have been presented with a range of opportunities for improving the efficiency of their practices and the delivery of their services. This course provides an overview of the Act, considers the range of alternative business structures that are available, other opportunities and threats facing providers, and strategies for addressing them.
The module is targeted particularly at small to medium-sized providers who are considering how best to tackle the Act, and who would like to consider the alternative business structures that may be available to them. In addition, we address other efficiency drivers, and some thoughts on managing your business through the recession.
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A downloadable course guide, containing the content from the on-line module in booklet form, can be accessed by clicking here:
Access Course Guide
- Expanding Your Business Read more
1.5 hours
This course is targeted particularly at small to medium sized providers who are either considering expanding their business or would like to understand the various options available to them, including both the benefits and risks.
The course will look at some of the additional elements when thinking of expansion including how to raise finance through your bank, and whether there are any available alternatives. You will also be given an introduction to some of the people management skills that will be required when moving your firm from a small team to one that is much larger.
Case studies are based on actual experiences and bring together theory with reality.
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A downloadable course guide, containing the content from the on-line module in booklet form, can be accessed by clicking here:
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- Effective Use of IT Read more
1.5 hours
This course is focussed on how a legal services provider can achieve benefits and maximise efficiency through effective use of technology, along with providing suggestions and tips on various solutions that are available. It is targeted particularly at small to medium sized providers who are either considering investing in technology or require an understanding on utilising, more effectively, technology solutions that are already in place. The module takes the participant through the journey of software implementation and highlights key areas and considerations that are critical to success
Enrol
A downloadable course guide, containing the content from the on-line module in booklet form, can be accessed by clicking here:
Access Course Guide
