Supervising Junior Lawyers
Our supervising junior lawyers training gives senior lawyers the tools to get the quality of work required from their team. Getting the most from junior lawyers is easy to get wrong. Senior lawyers can easily forget what it was like when they started their career. They forget how long it takes to do a task which leads them to underestimate time for the junior lawyer. It’s easy to forget that unless they are supervised and taught the junior lawyer will not know even the basic terms in a practice area.
One of the biggest challenges with supervising junior lawyers is to give enough time to do it properly. This is one of those situations where if we don’t give enough time it takes more time to put things right.
Another challenge can be in deciding what level of detail and how much context to give. Whilst time pressures drive senior lawyers to treat tasks as discreet, giving context and detail can not only help motivation but also help the junior understand what is required.
Supervising junior lawyers training
This supervising junior lawyers training gives lawyers a clear framework on how to get it right. We review the key processes, that is, what to do and when to do it. How to set up the relationship on solid foundation be establishing clear expectations. And we cover some of the key skills required. We also give a number of frameworks to use as tools to help with supervision.
Participants
This training is suitable for lawyers who have the responsibility for supervising more junior lawyers. We have run this for Solicitors, Associates and Partners. Solicitors supervising paralegals, Associates supervising solicitors and paralegals, and Partners supervising all levels of lawyers.
The maximum number of participants in a workshop is 12, but this training can be run with just a few participants or as a one-to-one training/coaching session.
Agenda - supervising junior lawyers training
- Introduction and objectives.
- Challenges with supervision; the senior lawyer’s perspective.
- What the junior lawyer needs; motivators and de-motivators.
- Contracting: establishing a strong foundation for your working relationship.
- Understanding the work styles of your junior lawyers.
- Developmental & non-developmental tasks.
- Time required for success & the law of increasing return.
- Key skills required in supervision.
- The importance of feedback & how to give it positively.
- Coaching junior lawyers.
- Practical scenarios.
- Participant scenarios.
- How not to supervise!
- Summary of workshop.
- Personal action plans.
Style of training
This training is run as a workshop with interaction and engagement from the start. Participants are encouraged to share their challenges and experiences and discuss how the ideas presented could apply to their situations.
Pre-workshop activity
Participants are asked to complete the ITD works styles model questionnaire, which takes just 3-4 minutes. This gives context to the impact of personality on how delegation occurs.
Participants are also asked to consider their challenges and experiences of supervising junior lawyers.
Post workshop activity
Emailed action plans, plus one to one coaching available.
Outcomes
By the end of the workshop participants will have;
- A framework for supervising junior lawyers.
- Reviewed their approach to supervision.
- Gained ideas on how to assess the needs of the junior lawyers.
- Created personal actions.
Trainer
The trainer works with many law firms from big internationals to local firms. He works with paralegals, trainees, to supervisors and partners as well as business professionals in law firms. Check out the reviews page for feedback we receive in our training sessions.
Duration
The contents of this training can work within a number of different durations. It can be run as a seminar style in 60-90 minutes. A workshop style of 2-3 hours gives more time for interaction. Spreading it over two 2-3 hour sessions means the participants have time to reflect on their learning and implement actions between part 1 and part 2. It also means we can give each item on the agenda enough time to explain, illustrate and apply in situations which are relevant to you.
Timing
This training can be run at your convenience by choosing a date and time that suits you.
Models used in our training
ITD Work Styles Model
Our personality Model is easy to apply to everyday supervision situations.
Contracting
Contracting is a simple model for establishing a strong foundation to working relationships.
Case Studies- Supervising junior lawyers training
Start the conversation on supervising junior lawyers training
Call us on +44 (0)800 804 8086
