Recorded Webinar: 3 CPD Compulsory Topics for Lawyers

This webinar comprises 3 one-hour sessions covering each of the compulsory CPD subjects for lawyers for the CPD year ending 31 March 2024.

Session 1: Ethics

Conflicts of Interest Arising from Past Dealings: Ethics in Commercial Practice

You have previously dealt with a party who now has separate representation. What do you do? This session looks at the best practice ethics response that can arise from past dealings. It includes:

• Conflicts of interest from historical dealings – understanding the risk
• Is it just about loyalty, confidentiality, and the administration of justice?
• Acting against a former client – the enduring duty of loyalty
• Conflicts arising from acting for more than one party
• The question of awareness in managing conflicts of interest
• Understanding the Professional Conduct and Practice Rules
• Referring matters to professional bodies ethics committee
• Maintaining a conflicts register and other key strategies

Session 2: Practice Management & Business Skills

Maximising the Digital Advantage in your Legal Practice

The future is paperless, with the benefits of going digital undeniable. Staying competitive requires being on the cutting edge of technology. This session tells you how:

• Delivering a service and understanding how – developing a digital strategy
• On demand web based software for your legal practice – what to look for
• System solutions - practice management software essentials
• Use of cloud computing – accessibility, security and confidentiality
• Tracking billable hours – the clear digital advantage
• Online research tools for your legal practice
• Documentation automation and artificial intelligence
• The importance of integrated technology
• Case study – cyber and data security in your law practice

Session 3: Professional Skills

Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word …. Dealing with (and Preventing) Mistakes

It is inevitable that even with the most robust processes mistakes will inevitably be made. How one deals with the mistake, and learns from the experience, is what matters. This session shall look at the practicalities of what happens when a mistake is identified including:

• Tips for reviewing internal processes to identify the cause of the mistake (e.g. human error, systemic issue etc) and who should bear/share responsibility for the mistake and its repercussions;
• How to proceed when a mistake is identified (including communication of the mistake to courts, stakeholders and broader profession);
• Understanding the matter from the insurer’s perspective, what they will require and how to manage that relationship; and
• Identifying lessons learned from mistakes of others, how to share such lessons and insight and tips for review and updating systems to avoid repetition of mistake)