Recorded Webinar: 3 CPD Compulsory Topics for Lawyers – a national webinar 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 2021.

Session 1: Professional Skills

Client Communications: Taking Instructions in a Digital World

The importance of getting clear and concise instructions from a client cannot be underestimated, and doing so remotely is an added complexity that comes with some risk. This session will explore what measures need to be put in place and how to spot any warning flags, to ensure both client and practitioner are protected from interference or abuse, including:

• What are the options for remotely taking instructions?
• Have the conduct rules and legislation kept up with changing times?
• Identifying your client – what information do you need? How can it be verified?
• Using teleconferencing – an adequate substitute for face to face interactions?
• Who else is in the room? Can you ensure confidentiality and non-interference?
• Where is the correspondence originating? Spotting fraud and undue influence
• Tips for minimising risk

Session 2: Practice Management Business Skills

Estimating Fees and Getting Costing Right

This session looks at what we normally get wrong in fee estimates and costing. Understanding the no-go zones on costing provides a path forward in efficient practice management. It includes:

• Understanding legal obligation in costing - yours and theirs
• What is required in cost disclosure? – be-spoked estimates and explaining major variables where applicable
• The engagement letter - who is the client? how are costs calculated?
• Descriptive scope of work and estimates for each step
• Interim billing and how it conforms to overall estimate
• Navigating the fixed fee and billable hour conundrum
• Time costing - what is claimable and what is not claimable

Session 3: Legal Ethics

Ethical Challenges, Duty of Care and Professional Misconduct

Professional misconduct claims continue to occur, with practitioners falling foul of their ethical obligations. In this practical session, hear directly from LawCover on the lessons we can learn from recent professional misconduct cases and how practitioners can ensure they properly discharge their ethical obligations. It covers:

• Identifying key ethical challenges that arise in practice
• Understanding appropriate standards of ethical behaviour
• The interplay with professional misconduct - The causal symptoms and contributory factors of claims
• Claims prevention and risk management – best practice guidelines and emerging practice risks, traps and tips
• Lessons from recent reported and unreported decisions