Working in the legal profession requires continuous learning. Some of this will come naturally throughout your career. However, certain skills and knowledge areas will require additional training or education. Whether you’re newly qualified, looking to enhance your legal skills, or considering a change of direction in your career, below we look at how you can gain practical post-qualification expertise.
By Grant Longstaff. Published 12 September 2023.
Why do I need post-qualification professional development?
No matter which area of the law you work in, you’ll see developments throughout your career. As the law, and by extension the legal sector evolves, legal professionals need to stay up to date with changes and how it affects their work. If you want to succeed in law, you can’t ignore the importance of post-qualification training. By taking ownership of your professional development, you’ll not only enhance your legal skills, but show your employers, or potential employers, your drive to always be at the top of your game.
What are the benefits of post-qualification professional development?
One of the practical benefits of further training is to upskill. If you’re newly qualified you may lack the depth of knowledge in your chosen practice area. Conversely, some professionals with years of experience take these courses to ensure they have the most up to date knowledge of their field.
Enhancing your knowledge may be one of the biggest benefits, however, the impact this has on you and your practice can also be significant. Professional development can help build your confidence within the workplace. Your decision making will be more informed, and you’ll have a greater command of your chosen legal area. In addition, professional development courses can help separate you from the pack when it comes to applying for jobs. It’s always a positive thing to include them on your CV or application, especially if you’re newly qualified.
What practice areas are covered in post-qualification professional development courses?
Unlike undergraduate and postgraduate legal education, where courses are generally designed to provide a detailed overview of the law, professional development courses cover one specific area in detail. For example, our course in Corporate Law covers areas such as mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate insolvency, international aspects of corporate transactions, and private equity and buyouts, to name just a few of the many diverse topics.
We currently offer courses in the following areas:
- Banking and Finance
- Commercial Property
- Corporate Law
- Dispute Resolution
- Employment Law
- Private Client Law
- Tax Law
Our courses are delivered by solicitors or barristers and have been designed to combine theory with practice, along with interactive activities and case studies to review and discuss, so you gain a wealth of knowledge from experts in the field.
What are the learning options?
Our professional development courses are available at either our London Moorgate campus or online. The courses are broken into modules, with each tending to require between 3.5 and 6 hours. We want to make the courses work for you and your career, so one of the beauties of studying with us is that the courses can be taken as a structured program or, if you’re already working, you can take the modules as and when you’re able.
Post-qualification professional development is a significant part of practising law. Self-development not only provides the opportunity to enhance your skills, it also shows your commitment and dedication to law firms and organisations. Remember, undertaking professional legal training is an investment in you and your career.
Explore our range of post-qualification professional development courses and sign up today.
