What Makes A Good In-House Legal Training Course?

Copyright (c) 2011 Sue Richardson

You've booked the trainer, the room's all set up and you've even managed to get the Powerpoint working properly (after trying at least three different connection leads). So now you're all set for your in-house legal training, how do you know that the course you're getting is the right one for you?

Bespoke Or Off The Shelf?

If cost is an issue then the temptation may be to organise a 'generic' course that, while it may tick all the continual personal development boxes, doesn't have a great deal of relevance to your specific area of business. The result is that you have to 'cherry-pick' the best bits and disregard the rest. This doesn't represent a good return on your investment and, while you may hit it lucky, the chances are that an 'off the shelf' training course is going to deliver less than you hoped.

So perhaps the best way to ensure that your in-house legal training course delivers everything you want it to is to sit down with the training organisation beforehand and discuss your needs and exactly what you want the training course to deliver. So if you are planning to move into a new area such as personal injury claims for example, make sure that the training delivers the right material that's up to date, is regarded as current best practice and can be easily absorbed into your overall business strategy.

Who Is Your Trainer?

There's an old saying - those who can do, do. Those who can't, teach. This does deride the noble profession of teaching somewhat, but it is important to know who your trainer is and what their credentials are. Good trainers not only have a wealth of knowledge and understanding at their fingertips, but they should also be able to impart that knowledge in an engaging and entertaining way. If your trainees are enjoying their course then they will find that they absorb much more in a shorter space of time.

Your trainer should also understand your business model and how you want the training to fit into your overall strategy. The trainer shouldn't just understand his or her own subject matter, but its relevance and how it fits into your own business environment. If your work is in Human Resources, for example, does the trainer understand the challenges your business faces, or are they just interested in delivering the latest employment law details and nothing else?

What Do You Want To Get Out Of The Training?

If you don't have a clear idea of what you want to achieve with your in-house legal training, how will you know if the course has delivered successfully? So by talking to your training organisation first, you can get a clearer understanding of what you want to take away from the experience. Whether it's just a matter of fulfilling your CPD requirements or if you are thinking of expanding your business's skill set to encompass a wider field, plan carefully. By utilising your time efficiently and knowing exactly what you want to achieve, your specifications will allow your training organisation to ensure that the training is optimised to suit your requirements exactly.

A good in-house legal training course isn't just a matter of delivering a catalogue of factual information from a Powerpoint presentation. It's an organic experience that should be tailored to suit your individual needs and requirements and deliver great training and an even better return on your investment.


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