Practice Management Course

The LIV Practice Management Course (PMC) has been expertly designed to provide the essential business and financial knowledge and skills to help lawyers transition to principal of their own practice or move into partnership, identify practice risks, and develop strategies to mitigate them. Delivered through a blended learning approach, the modules simulate a business lifecycle.

New skills requirement: grant of a principal practising certificate policy

Lawyers who apply for a principal practising certificate will need to exhibit additional skills and expertise necessary to manage a law practice.

The Victorian Legal Services Board + Commissioner (VLSB+C) has issued the Grant of a Principal Practising Certificate Policy (Policy) to support the Board’s discretion to grant a principal practising certificate. This policy commenced on 1 January 2019.

The Policy states that a lawyer who seeks to be granted a principal Australian practising certificate in Victoria will need to demonstrate that they possess the additional skills and expertise necessary to manage a law practice competently, diligently and successfully. A way for lawyers to display the necessary skills and expertise to the VLSB+C will be to successfully complete a practice management course which has been assessed by the VLSB+C as meeting these guidelines.

The LIV’s PMC has been assessed by the VLSB+C as meeting these guidelines.

The Policy and course guidelines are available on the Board’s website at www.lsbc.vic.gov.au.

Benefits of LIV’s PMC:

Learn from a range of leaders who share expert knowledge in all facets of legal practice management
Be prepared for the increased responsibilities connected with becoming a principal
Receive a comprehensive suite of learning aids, including course materials, online learning modules and practical and interactive workshops to reinforce and guide you when transitioning to the role of principal
Access a range of business templates and FAQs that will assist you to develop and build your practice
Obtain LIV support and guidance throughout the PMC and access to after care and follow-up support through the LIV’s professional practice area
Build your peer network through small learning environments and maintain these connections through the LIV PMC alumni group

Course structure and deliverables
Course materials	Underpinning the workshops, participants will have access to and will be required to review all of the course materials relating to each topic ahead of the relevant workshop. The course materials will be available to download and review online. Course materials will include, but won’t be limited to, study texts, guidelines, workbooks and fact sheets.
Learning exercises	Building on the study texts, a set of learning exercises will be designed to provide an interactive forum for each attendee to self-assess and demonstrate their knowledge.
Workshops	This course includes three days (21 hours) of interactive face-to-face delivery. It is intended that the LIV will deliver the program follows: Day 1 - Start up: introduction to practice management, business strategy and succession planning, and financial management Day 2 - Legal fundamentals operations: practice management systems, trust accounting, professional standards and ethics and risk management Day 3 - Growth and transition: managing technology and innovation, business development and marketing, people management and leadership, succession planning and exit strategies
Online learning	Complementary to the workshops, a range of digital formats will be included in the LIV PMC such as e-learning activities, webinars, videos, online questionnaires, peer learning and collaboration.
Assessment	The course includes a variety of assessments which have been developed to test the practical application of the skills and knowledge acquired as part of the program. Participants will be assessed on the following topics: business planning, risk management and audit and trust accounting. Participants will receive an assessment brief as part of the workshop and will be required to submit their assessments within two weeks of attending the workshops.

To view details, and to register, please cick on your chosen course date below.

For more information email pmc@liv.asn.au or call (03) 9607 9473.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the course fees?

The rates for the course are LIV Member: $1980 and Non Member: $2200, these are inclusive of GST. Practitioners employed by Community Legal Centres are eligible for a discount, contact pmc@liv.asn.au for more information.
What is included in the course fees?
- Electronic course materials and pre reading requirements
- Three day workshop program inc morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea
- Assessments
- Various business templates
- Access to LIV PMC alumni network
What are the requirements to successfully complete the course?

Attendees are required to undertake pre reading of course materials, attend and participate in the full three-day workshop program and successfully complete the assessment tasks.

Assessment tasks must be completed within six months of attending the workshop program.
How do I access the course materials?

Pre-reading and course materials are made available to attendees via the PMC learning management system (LMS). Attendees will receive access to the LMS at least one week prior to the workshops.

Additional workbooks will be provided for relevant core topics on the first day of the workshop program.

Are there assessments in the program?

Yes, there are a variety of assessments to certify that attendees have acquired and demonstrated an appropriate understanding of, and competence in, each of the core subjects. The below table outlines the current assessment requirements:

Core topic	Assessment	Requirement
Business planning and strategy	Business plan submission	Pass mark at least 50%
Trust accounting	Invigilated examination	Pass mark at least 75%
Risk management Ethics Financial management Legal Costs	Online activities	Pass mark at least 75% for each

Can I undertake the course online?

Partially, however, in person attendance is required for the three-day workshop program and a classroom examination in order to successfully complete the LIV PMC. Course materials and other assessment items are accessible through the learning management system and can be completed and submitted online.
Can I claim this points as CPD?

Yes, the LIV PMC includes at least one unit in each of the four compulsory fields so that practitioners who successfully complete the LIV PMC have met their CPD requirements for that CLE year.
Is the approved trust account authorisation course included within the PMC?

No, practitioners seeking a principal practising certificate with trust account authorisation, are required to complete the LIV’s approved trust account authorisation course. Details and purchase of this can be found at below:

Program details: https://www.liv.asn.au/Professional-Practice/Compliance/Approved-Trust-Account-Course

Visit the Approved Trust Account Course product page at Law Books to buy online.