“In a profession which relies on words, it is interesting that communication is one of the issues most complained about by clients”

NSW Legal Profession Advisory Council Discussion Paper on Lawyers’ Communication Skills

This course is designed to improve the skills of communicating with clients. It explores a number of techniques for preventing communication problems from happening. It examines the rules of professional conduct as they relate to communications and it assists the practitioner in developing skills for handling new and existing clients. The course covers techniques for communicating effectively and how to organise a practice to avoid or manage problems in communicating with clients.

Finally, the course explores the issues raised by Rule 2 of the Solicitors’ Code of Conduct 2007.

Objectives

By the end of this course delegates should be:

•          Understanding the duty of communicating to a client;

•          Recognising and tackling communication problems before they grow;

•          Managing a client’s expectations;

•          Avoiding delay;

•          Organising a practice to avoid or manage problems;

•          Communicating effectively;

•          Starting and ending the retainer correctly; and

•          Understanding the communication provisions of the Solicitors’ Code of Conduct.