Risk Management: Engagements and Client Management

Course Description

This course is split into two parts. Each part is 90 minutes long.

Part A: Managing Client Teams During an Engagement – This part focuses on managing your client and team during an engagement. This course is really intended to help you understand the essential elements of engagement management, including techniques for overseeing staff and case matter workflow, establishing standards for both internal and external communications, as well as some systems for financial oversight. You should be able to understand the critical elements of staff management, including how to pick the right teams for your client, how to leverage different skillsets and optimize capacities of your different team members. You will learn some practical steps on how to build teamwork and delegating duties and improving communication with you and your team members.

The sessions will also go over some of the risks and consequences of poor practice management and review the nuts and bolts of supervision, including the duties of Principal Solicitors and key components of a supervisory management system.

Part B: Transferring Cases: Handing Over and Accepting Legal Matters – This part focuses on transferring cases and that looks at handing over and accepting legal matters. This course is intended to help you understand the fundamental components of transferring a matter. We shall look into the reasons that would necessitate a matter to be transferred either to another firm or to another solicitor. We shall discuss the parties who are typically involved in the transfer, as well as the types of legal issues that you need to consider and plan for when engaging in a transfer such as duty of confidentiality, conflicts of interests, contractual obligations, as well as the notice that’s required to interested parties. This course also introduces the regulatory framework, guarding, governing transfers specifically in relation to the rules of professional conduct and pays particular attention to the principles surrounding retainers and relations with other solicitors. You should be able to identify the types of files that are owned by clients, as well as the types of files that are owned by your legal practice and your obligations with respect on how to handle each type during a transfer. You should also be able to articulate some of the essential components of a file transfer system, as well as possess a clear understanding of the process that should be followed when both accepting and handing over a transferred file.

Speaker’s Bio: 
This course is taught by Kelly Stone, a lawyer from the United States with more than twelve years of international law experience. Kelly holds a Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D.) and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Sociology and Philosophy, and has been working to strengthen the capacity of both public and private bodies in adhering to obligations under the law. Kelly is well-versed in legal analysis and research, and has provided technical expertise in developing legal norms and standards, assessing risk management and strategies, and has assisted government actors in developing policies and protocols relating to safety and security. Kelly is also a certified facilitator and has trained government officials, NGOs, and community leaders on a variety of topics, including law, policy, safety and development. In addition, Kelly has a demonstrative publication record, which includes peer-viewed journal articles, book chapters, and opinion pieces.