Free CPD training for LawNet members
LawNet is to provide its CPD accredited training free of charge to members, saying it wants to help firms maintain training standards against a backdrop of tough economic trading conditions.
The scheme was successfully piloted on a selection of courses earlier this year and is now to be rolled out for a full year.
LawNet, the leading law firm network with nearly 70 mid size independent law firm members, delivers over 50 CPD accredited learning events each year for its member firms, covering a wide range of technical, practice management and business development topics.
And now around 35 of these will be delivered free of charge during the coming year, with 1400 delegate places across over 20 specialist practice areas.
“We recognise that in tough economic times, it’s often training budgets that get slashed but this is just the time that firms most need to invest in skills to stay ahead. We do not want our firms to suffer from lack of skills or the benefits that come from getting together and engaging in face-to-face learning,” explained director of services Helen Hamilton-Shaw.
“As we operate as a mutual organisation for the benefit of members, our training delivery has always been delivered on a not for profit basis. Because of the growth of the network over the last year, combined with savings elsewhere, we’ve been able to make this happen and help our firms at a very practical level. The backbone of our network is the quality ethos; all our firms must maintain our ISO.9001 standard, and ongoing training is key to good practice and risk management.”
John Britten of Actons, LawNet member in Nottingham, has welcomed the free CPD saying: “For me the training and sharing of knowledge continues to be one of the most important aspects of membership.
“The training is developed in response to what members actually want, and as we are a group of like-minded firms of a similar profile, wanting broadly the same sort of training, it’s a bit like having bespoke in-house training but at a very good value rate – even better value now that so many courses will be free.”
Specialist professional development and residential courses run by LawNet will continue to be chargeable, including their strategic leadership and management programme, which involves leading specialist speakers.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Press information:
Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & Marketing
Direct line: 01400 251557 Mobile: 0797 3767602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk Twitter : @magtay
Helen Hamilton-Shaw, Director of Services, LawNet
Direct line: 01926 834622 Email: hhamilton-shaw@lawnet.co.uk Twitter: @helenhshaw
Notes to Editor:
About LawNet:
LawNet was established in 1989 to enable a collaborative, non-competing national network where independent law firms could access big firm resources and benefit from collective purchasing, shared knowledge, best practice and expertise. Each firm has an exclusive geographical operating area to enable collaboration.
The combined income of the 68 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £15m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, business development, marketing and compliance. It currently places some £1.2bn worth of PI cover alone for members each year, which helps stabilise premiums for firms.
Twitter: @LawNetUK
Blog: http://thelawnetblog.wordpress.com/
The boyos win on home turf in LawNet’s Snowdon challenge
A team from Gamlins in Rhyl have taken the LawNet Challenge title, completing an 11 mile course with a 3800 foot ascent to the summit of Snowdon, in a blistering 269 minutes and 10 seconds.
The team, comprising Huw Rees, Dafydd Roberts, Ron Davison and Gwyn Pritchard, were almost 100 minutes faster than their nearest rivals.
Taking part on the day were 80 lawyers in 17 teams, all drawn from LawNet member firms across the country.
The all-male winning team from Gamlins were spotted sprinting down from the summit, as they literally ran to victory; unlike their female counterparts from the same firm, who took a wrong turn at an early stage – leading to the usual jokes about women and directions. However humble pie was the order of the day as the ‘Gamlins Girls’ still managed to secure second place in the Challenge, finishing in 361mins 16secs, with third place going to a team from Lincoln firm Andrew & Co, in 402mins.
Each year leading law firm network LawNet arranges a Challenge event for its 70 strong membership of independent firms. Previous events have included the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge and Helvellyn and Striding Edge.
The event is organised by George Coombes, LawNet’s Marketing & Services Manager, who said: “Members enjoy the opportunity to network in a more informal setting and environment, whilst having a bit of competitive fun. It was a close call with the weather after snowfall on Snowdon just a week before and bad rain predicted, but we had a great day.”
He added: “Seeing the winning team descend was reminiscent of a scene from Mission Impossible, all running from the summit and one member channelling Tom Cruise in a pair of big aviator mirrored sunglasses! The winning Gamlins team also completed the mini-orienteering challenge at checkpoint 1, whereas some teams decided to take a 30 minute time penalty and miss this out. They certainly were deserving winners.”
Last year’s winners, Darbys from Oxford, finished sixth in 417mins 39secs and the LawNet head office team a respectable seventh in 418mins 26secs.
Team list:
Andrew & Co LLP
Berry & Berry
Breeze & Wyles Solicitors LLP
Darbys Solicitors LLP
Gamlins (3 teams)
Gardner Leader LLP (2 teams)
Gepp & Sons
Lamb Brooks
LawNet
Mullis & Peake LLP (2 teams)
Myers Lister Price Solicitors
Oxley & Coward Solicitors LLP
Parrott & Coales LLP
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Press information:
Maggie Taylor, Prima PR & Marketing
Direct line: 01400 251557 Mobile: 0797 3767602 Email: maggie@primapr.co.uk
Helen Hamilton-Shaw, Director of Services, LawNet
Direct line: 01926 834622 Email: hhamilton-shaw@lawnet.co.uk
Notes to Editor:
About LawNet:
LawNet was established in 1989 to enable a collaborative, non-competing national network where independent law firms could access big firm resources and benefit from collective purchasing, shared knowledge, best practice and expertise. Each firm has an exclusive geographical operating area to enable collaboration.
The combined income of the 68 firms comprising LawNet is currently in excess of £250m – equivalent to a UK Top 15 law firm – with members ranging from £2m to £15m turnover.
Independent research shows LawNet is most highly valued by members for delivering in six key areas – training, networking, PII, business development, marketing and compliance. It currently places some £1.2bn worth of PI cover alone for members each year, which helps stabilise premiums for firms.
Twitter: @LawNetUK
Blog: http://thelawnetblog.wordpress.com/