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Certificated management courses
1 Jan 02
Society has teamed up with Institute of Management and Perth College to offer open supported learning course in management
Law Society of Scotland launches its first certificated management courses for solicitors
The Society has teamed up with the Institute of Management and Perth College, part of the University of Highlands and Islands Project, to offer a new open supported learning course in management. (See November 2001 Journal, p44 for further details)
The tailor-made course will enable solicitors to study from their homes or offices in their own time and at their own pace. Solicitors who complete the course successfully will be awarded an accredited certificate from the Institute of Management. The completed course will also fulfil the 20 hours Continuing Professional Development, which solicitors must complete every year.
The course is tailored to the management needs of legal practitioners focusing on financial planning, relationships with clients and managing a firm as a business.
Solicitors who enrol for the course will attend tutorial workshops at various centres in Scotland. Solicitors will follow a self study programme in their own time with tuition materials supplied by Perth College and approved by the Society.
Martin McAllister, President of the Law Society of Scotland, said: “This is a great opportunity for solicitors to keep their knowledge and skills up-to-date, whilst gaining a recognised qualification.
“Management is vitally important for solicitors who are, after all, business people in their own right. I’m delighted that we are able to offer the new course with the Institute of Management and Perth College and I’m sure it will be a great success. I’m sure it will be a welcome initiative by the profession and will lead to more certificated courses for solicitors.
“Open supported learning is a great solution for busy practitioners to keep their continuing professional development up-to-date. This way they can learn
from the comfort of their own home or office with the support of tutorial workshops.”
Evan Williams, the Institute of Management’s Manager for Scotland, added: “The importance of developing management talent and expertise cannot be overstated. This applies as much in the legal profession as in all other walks of life.
“The Institute of Management is delighted to be associated with this exciting new venture by the Law Society of Scotland, and we are confident it will bring great added value to the high professional standards for which Scottish law is already renowned.”
The Society’s Update department organises a wide range of seminars each year, keeping practitioners up-to-date with changes in the law, general business and management. These include many practical seminars including management of accounts and e-commerce.