ILCA Press Release – 19^th January 2007

EVERY SMART FIRM SHOULD HAVE ONE

Whilst the Clementi Report has caused debate over the role of non-lawyer management staff within a legal practice, a quiet revolution has been taking place “below stairs”.  While others have been merely talking, the Institute of Legal Cashiers and Administrators (ILCA) and the University of Wolverhampton’s School of Legal Studies have collaborated to create a Foundation Degree in Practice Administration.  Imagine having a practice manager with either a Foundation Degree or an MA in Legal Practice Management – wouldn’t all smart law firms want one?!

There are many individuals working within law firms who, given the opportunity, could graduate towards the role of Practice Manager. It is impor­tant from a credibility point of view that they also have qualifications as well as the experience. With this in mind, the University of Wolverhampton School of Legal Studies, the University’s Business School and ILCA, following exten­sive consultation with individuals and appropriate professional bodies, designed an exciting course called the “Foundation Degree in Practice Administration”. There is a special focus on legal and related areas of practice.

The intention of this Foundation Degree is to further individuals’ education and skills and enable them to progress into a wide variety of practice administration roles. They can then continue their studies if they wish to include a Masters Degree in Practice Management. The first successful group of students is currently undertaking their final disserta­tions at Masters level; three have already ‘fast-tracked’ themselves and graduate as the first specialists in Practice Management with a bespoke course of study to suit a legal practice. All of them started with a variety of qualifications and experience.

Foundation Degrees as an idea were launched in 2001 and were designed and supported by businesses and employers; they are seen as a good way of achieving the aims of going to university whilst progressing vocationally in a chosen field of work.

Since the aims and objectives of both the University of Wolverhampton School of Legal Studies programme and the ILCA programmes of study are similar, it has been relatively straightfor­ward to link them together. Thus anyone with qualifications gained through ILCA can, through the University's Accredited Prior Achievement (APA) provision, use these initial qualifications to count towards their programme of study for the Foundation Degree.

Harnessing home-grown expert­ise from within a practice by enhancing management and busi­ness skills through such programmes of study (which are adapted to a busy work and life schedule) could be the solution for law firms for the future. These study pro­grammes are available now. Perhaps therefore now is a good time for firms to look to education as a solution.

For a fuller explanation of this subject visit the ILCA web site at www.ilca.org.uk or contact the executive secretary, Margaret Macdonald, on 020 8302 2867.

To receive Course Application papers, please contact Clare Foster, at the School of Legal Studies, Wolverhampton University. Tel: 01902 321633; Email: C.Foster@wlv.ac.uk