Business Skills in the Legal Environment
Outcome 1 - evaluate the use of different types of information and communication equipment and systems in a legal office
Practical skills
The candidate will be able to:
- design tools for monitoring the use of different information management systems
- design and adapt material to enhance and support current information systems (paper-based and electronic) eg filing systems, customer/client records
- identify and compare manual and electronic communication systems eg memos, newsletters, staff notices, telephone, e-mail, internet, intranet
- make recommendations for improving existing communication and information systems
- produce documentation following house style guidance eg reports, forms.
Underpinning knowledge
The candidate will be able to:
- identify different internal and external sources of information and their uses eg databases, intranet, internet, court service, land registry
- evaluate the use and appropriateness of different information management systems, manual and electronic
- describe the reasons for monitoring routine hygiene and maintenance procedures for equipment
- identify organisational policies and procedures for using information and communication systems and equipment.
Outcome 2 - describe how legislation affects the legal office and describe the legal system
Practical skills
The candidate will be able to:
- carry out a basic risk assessment in a given work or study area
- describe how to monitor hazards to self and others
Underpinning knowledge
The candidate will be able to:
- describe the structure of the court system in England, Wales and the EU ie:
- Criminal courts
- Civil courts (including Tribunals)
- European Court of Justice
- identify the personnel operating in the court system within England and Wales and describe their training and main roles eg judges, magistrates, barristers, solicitors, legal executives
- identify the health and safety information that should be included in an organisation’s rules and regulations
- explain how a safe and healthy working environment affects personal rights and responsibilities
- explain own legal responsibilities as required by health and safety legislation and organisational policy
- describe how an individual’s acts can affect others in relation to a healthy and safe working environment
- describe accident reporting and recording procedures
- explain how to deal with and store hazardous substances in the workplace eg toners, cleaning fluid, ink cartridges
- explain the importance of maintaining security and confidentiality of data
- describe how employment legislation affects the legal office
Outcome 3 - identify and explain the importance of continuous improvement within an organisation
Practical skills
The candidate will be able to:
- identify methods of continuous improvement used by an organisation eg customer feedback, reviews of current practice, exception/non-conforming reporting
- describe activities which assist in identifying and improving work practices:
- external quality marks (eg Investors in People, Lexcel, ISO)
- quality reviews and improvement techniques (eg benchmarking)
- target setting and planning
- SWOT and PEST analyses
- make recommendations for improvements in a given work area
- describe various techniques for identifying individual needs for development eg:
- formal and informal feedback
- self-assessment
- training needs analysis
- identify ways in which an organisation can assist individual development eg:
- provision of training opportunities
- setting clear objectives (SMART).
Underpinning knowledge
The candidate will be able to:
- evaluate the use of different improvement techniques eg:
- focus groups
- inspections
- SWOT and PEST analyses
- describe the importance of individual continuous development within the working environment, to the employer and the employee and ways of monitoring this eg
performance management systems, appraisals.
Outcome 4 - explain the importance of effective team working and identify ways of resolving potential conflict
Practical skills
The candidate will be able to:
- identify how to plan and monitor resources
- illustrate the benefits of team working
- describe the characteristics of an effective team eg good communication, trust, honesty
- describe the characteristics of an ineffective team and the potential consequences of these
- identify ways of negotiating priorities with team members and others eg line managers, colleagues
- recommend techniques for resolving potential conflict.
Underpinning knowledge
The candidate will be able to:
- describe the differences between groups and teams
- explain the dynamics of team working
- describe how team objectives can be met eg motivation, support, SMART
- identify techniques for maintaining an effective team eg regular communication, individual involvement, clear roles and responsibilities
- identify and explain why potential conflicts may arise between team members
- explain the need for delegation.
Outcome 5 - organise or co-ordinate an event
Practical skills
The candidate will be able to:
- research and select appropriate venues for different types of internal and external events eg staff meetings, partner meetings, departmental meetings, team building events, conferences, exhibitions, seminars.
- plan how an event or meeting can be organised.
- describe types of information needed to organise an event eg speakers, guests, equipment, room layouts.
- use planning and monitoring tools to check progress of event preparation eg task lists, schedules, tracking logs, checklist of follow-up actions.
- present information and documentation for delegates to an event or meeting eg information pack, agenda, delegate list.
Underpinning knowledge
The candidate will be able to:
- identify organisational policies and procedures that apply to arranging meetings and events.
- identify and describe the advantages and disadvantages of different venues.
- identify health, safety and welfare considerations when organising an event.
- dentify techniques for evaluating the success of an event and describe the reasons for event evaluation.
|
