I spent all of today on a conveyancing CPD (continuous professional development) course in Tunbridge Wells.
While most of the content was not new, it provided a forum for some interesting discussions with other solicitors about practices, procedures and attitudes to risk - and about "clients from hell"!
It also left me with about a dozen possible improvements to make to paperwork and procedures - life is a constant process of improvement, which I currently welcome, but I wonder how soon I will become demotivated (as many lawyers I know) and cannot find the enthusiasm to change
The majority of those attending feel Home Information Packs to be a waste of time and money, but I still feel that, done well, they help the conveyancing process significantly
Showing posts with label training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label training. Show all posts
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Sunday, 8 February 2009
CPD
All lawyers (well - all practising lawyers, in the UK at least; I don't know about others) are required to undergo Continuing Professional Development - basically, in-service training to keep up to date.
It can be frustrating having to spend a day or half a day out of the office when there is so much to be dealt with on one's desk; and the workload is only increased as a result of attending a well-chosen course: improving systems, updating precedents and information leaflets and generally improving standards of service as a result of what has been learned - or, sometimes, remembered - on the course.
Still, lawyers' CPD obligations are relatively light, compared to accountants' and IFAs', and polishing up one's knowledge and office procedures reaps immense benefits once the course-inspired changes have been implemented
I mention this today because I spent yesterday (Saturday) on a course - not for lawyers, but for new school governors. As a recently re-appointed governor of Tenterden Infant School, I attended an induction course at the Abbey School, Faversham with a couple of dozen other "new" governors, learning the basics - particularly that governors must not interfere in the day-to-day running of the school, but only keep an overview and ensure strategic policies are followed and the school kept within budget
Many of the attendees were first-time governors. Others, like me, had been governors a few years ago. At least one had been a teacher, latterly a senior teacher, who had been invited to become a governor when she retired. We therefore had a wide range of experience of schools. As parent, staff, community or foundation governors we also had a wide range of different starting points as governors.
Ideally, governors also come from as wide a range of backgrounds as possible, though it was noticeable that all who attended yesterday were white, they were predominately middle class (as far as I could tell); though I did not actually count, I think women were in a slight majority.
As a result of attending the course, I was reminded of the sense of satisfaction and happiness I experienced when I was a governor before, and (though there seems to be a lot more responsibility and accountability now - a good thing, I believe) I am looking forward to getting involved in the work of the governing body again.
Tenterden Infant School is, in my admittedly limited experience, a marvellous school - well run by each of the headteachers there that I have known, with enthusiastic and well-qualified teaching and other staff, the children always seem happy, well-behaved and receptive. It could be argued that this is relatively "easy" in an infants school in a prosperous rural town, but running a school is never "easy" - and running it well is always important, whatever the age of the pupils or the size or location of the school.
The input I have as a governor is relatively small, but it is wonderful to be part of such a worthwhile, hardworking and happy organisation. I would recommend being a governor to anyone who wants to help their local community and particularly to help its children and to help promote high standards of educational achievement
It can be frustrating having to spend a day or half a day out of the office when there is so much to be dealt with on one's desk; and the workload is only increased as a result of attending a well-chosen course: improving systems, updating precedents and information leaflets and generally improving standards of service as a result of what has been learned - or, sometimes, remembered - on the course.
Still, lawyers' CPD obligations are relatively light, compared to accountants' and IFAs', and polishing up one's knowledge and office procedures reaps immense benefits once the course-inspired changes have been implemented
I mention this today because I spent yesterday (Saturday) on a course - not for lawyers, but for new school governors. As a recently re-appointed governor of Tenterden Infant School, I attended an induction course at the Abbey School, Faversham with a couple of dozen other "new" governors, learning the basics - particularly that governors must not interfere in the day-to-day running of the school, but only keep an overview and ensure strategic policies are followed and the school kept within budget
Many of the attendees were first-time governors. Others, like me, had been governors a few years ago. At least one had been a teacher, latterly a senior teacher, who had been invited to become a governor when she retired. We therefore had a wide range of experience of schools. As parent, staff, community or foundation governors we also had a wide range of different starting points as governors.
Ideally, governors also come from as wide a range of backgrounds as possible, though it was noticeable that all who attended yesterday were white, they were predominately middle class (as far as I could tell); though I did not actually count, I think women were in a slight majority.
As a result of attending the course, I was reminded of the sense of satisfaction and happiness I experienced when I was a governor before, and (though there seems to be a lot more responsibility and accountability now - a good thing, I believe) I am looking forward to getting involved in the work of the governing body again.
Tenterden Infant School is, in my admittedly limited experience, a marvellous school - well run by each of the headteachers there that I have known, with enthusiastic and well-qualified teaching and other staff, the children always seem happy, well-behaved and receptive. It could be argued that this is relatively "easy" in an infants school in a prosperous rural town, but running a school is never "easy" - and running it well is always important, whatever the age of the pupils or the size or location of the school.
The input I have as a governor is relatively small, but it is wonderful to be part of such a worthwhile, hardworking and happy organisation. I would recommend being a governor to anyone who wants to help their local community and particularly to help its children and to help promote high standards of educational achievement
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
