PROJECT MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR LEGAL PRACTITIONERS: ADDING VALUE TO LEGAL PROJECTS

OBJECTIVE

• An understanding of all of the key legal project management concepts and how to talk to your clients credibly about them
• Examples of how legal departments and law firms are implementing LPM for different types of practice areas
• A skills-based approach to learning the fundamental LPM techniques such as stakeholder analysis, scoping of work, project plans and budgets, managing scope changes and conducting end-of-matter debriefs
• An understanding of the new CLOC approach to LPM
• The LPM Institute Launchpad Certificate in Fundamentals of Legal Project
• Management that can help you differentiate from other legal professionals.

CONTENT

Understanding Legal Project Management

• Program Objectives / Expectations
• Business Case for Project Management / Leading Firm and Legal Department Examples
• Introduction to Legal Project Management (LPM) Terminology
• Understanding LPM and Process Improvement and Their Interrelationships
• The LPM Institute Framework for Legal Project Management
• Small Group Exercise – Project Management in Action

The Engaging Phase of LPM

• Defining and Understanding Stakeholders
• Analyzing Stakeholders and the Impact on Your Project
• Developing Effective Scope of Work Agreements / Defining in and Out of Scope
• Setting and Managing Client Expectations
• Capitalizing Upon Your Firm’s Resources to Get Started

Planning Phase of LPM

• Understanding the Steps in the Planning Phase of LPM
• Details of a Project Plan
• Building a Work Breakdown Structure and Project Schedule

The Planning Phase of LPM (continued)

• Risk Management Planning
• Communications Planning

The Planning Phase of LPM (continued)

• Developing the Project / Matter Budget
• Using Budgeting Tools
• Case Study – Budgeting Exercise

The Executing and Evaluating / Closing Phases

• Communicating with the Client throughout the Engagement
• Resource Management – In and Outside the Firm
• Monitoring the Plan and Budget
• Using Budget to Actual Tools
• Dealing with Schedule and Scope Changes
• Negotiating Changes with Clients

TRAINING METHODOLOGY

The training methodology combines lectures, discussions, group exercises and illustrations. Participants will gain both theoretical and practical knowledge of the topics. The emphasis is on the practical application of the topics and as a result participant will go back to the workplace with both the ability and the confidence to apply the techniques learned to their duties.