In our previous two training blogs, we’ve illustrated the importance of training and preferred delivery methods. Take a look at ‘Why investing in software training is good for business’ and ‘Big bang vs bitesize training’ published on 25th September and 2nd October respectively.
The purpose of this third instalment is to clarify the types of training available to law firms from training suppliers such as Jayva. Although practice management software (PMS)-related training takes centre stage, we explain how there are multiple variations of these training offerings which are bespoke to particular work types, end users and specific duties.
Also, let’s not forget other options, most notably Microsoft Office training, bearing in mind its prominence in the day-to-day operations of legal practices.
Let the definitions commence…
User-based training options
Super user training
One of the keys to the success of your PMS is how well your staff use it. Over time, your staff’s expertise in software can gradually weaken or they can develop bad habits. With super user training, you create a bank of expert users to act as in-house technology champions, to bring new starters and infrequent users up to speed, thereby guaranteeing a consistently high standard of software knowledge and training across your law firm.
Case management training for fee earners
With the selection of PMS to streamline processes, training is needed to reach return on your investment (ROI) by ensuring those on the front line – your solicitors – are using optimally to manage live cases. By utilising a combination of initial and ongoing training, covering every aspect of matter management, all stages are handled to the best of your fee earning team’s ability.
Work type specific case management training
While your PMS allows you to build efficiencies in your daily work, further, add-on training empowers you to maximise ROI and bring about behavioural changes that really drive positive business change. General matter management training for your solicitors and support staff is a great starting point. Thereafter, choose sector-specific training designed to showcase the work-type particular tools and time-saving apps, for example courses delivered by Jayva on optimising LEAP Mobile and LEAP 365 to manage files and build new working practices that stand the test of time.
Legal accounting training for cashiers
Do your cashiers know how to navigate billing tools to recover fees due, including expenses and disbursements? Are your bookkeepers au fait with complicated legal accounting rules, of which compliance is mandatory? By learning how your technology ensures sound legal accounting principles with everything from breach reports to VAT returns, you have the assurance of regulatory compliance by engaging fully with new procedures and functionality. After all, any profitable law firm depends upon generating revenue by maximising billable hours and introducing robust billing processes, all while adhering to the SRA Accounts Rules – achieved thanks to training.
System administrator training
Make sure all your new employees hit the ground running, by upskilling your system administrator on creating new users along with their associated roles and permissions. These in-house technology experts will also be able to remove obsolete users, reset passwords, amend permissions and set up controls. They may develop case workflow steps with accompanying document templates too. Train on these back-office responsibilities to assume a ministerial mindset and take technology management to the next level.
Task-based training options
Workflow design training
As intimated above, if your PMS has workflow capabilities included, it’s a fantastic tool to guide employees with their file and matter management tasks. By mapping your workflow and templates from the word ‘go’, your software will perfectly mirror how you work as well as allowing you to introduce standardisation and uniformity to everything you do. This not only increases productivity and reduces stress, it manages core compliance objectives using triggers and reminders. With tailored workflow design training, your employees are given the skills to maintain your workflows for the future and make sure they’re always delivering what you need.
Precedent automation training
How much time is wasted on staff searching for or re-keying information on in-progress documents? To reduce the time spent producing documents, correspondence and forms, and enhance accuracy along the way, develop your own team of document automation gurus. This gives you control over custom guides, precedents and clause libraries. By investing in training, these automation tools are managed by you, with the freedom to adapt and develop without reliance upon external suppliers. .
Time recording and billing training
Is your firm capturing all billable time? Train your fee earners and support staff to navigate the variety of time recording tools at their fingertips – to record the highest possible chargeable activity across your business. This could be using clocks, mobile apps and other features in your PMS, and gaining a true understanding of what constitutes effective time recording and billing behaviours.
Reporting training
Typically, PMS comes with ready-made reports as well as report designer capabilities for personalised insights into performance – allowing you to make informed business decisions with confidence and perform forecasting with accuracy. Untap intelligence by getting to know your reporting features inside out via training. Whether it’s creating analytical dashboards, scheduling automated reports, utilising core reports or writing your own reports, training demonstrates how you can take total ownership of your data – and drive your law firm forward.
Month-end best practices training
Month end demands distinct undertakings by defined deadlines – or regulatory compliance becomes an issue. Training on best practices at month end ensures your staff understand their monthly obligations, from residual client balance checks and bank reconciliations, to COFA reports and anomaly investigations – in order to maintain your finances according to the requirements of parts two to four of the SRA Accounts Rules.
Other training options
Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint training
The Microsoft 365 ecosystem has a hoard of new-and-enhanced features, all of which boost productivity (of your employees) and professionalism (of your documents and communications). Courtesy of tailored Microsoft training, assess your employees to discover existing knowledge and identify skills gaps, then create a targeted training programme. Training will not only bridge these gaps, it’ll also engineer tight integration to your PMS. As Microsoft is a prime example of universally implemented technology that’s under-appreciated and under-utilised by the majority, learn to realise the full potential of Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint through training, for substantial efficiency and productivity improvements.
Microsoft Teams training
A common challenge for any business is building strong communication channels. Continuing on the Microsoft theme, Teams gives you the ability to collaborate smarter in a number of different ways. Through training, establish a robust Teams environment that combines chat, non-legal document management and knowledge-sharing across the whole business, teams or office locations. Your training partner may offer in-depth support comprising management training, consultancy and end user training on the areas you’ve highlighted as being important to your business, working closely with your internal or external IT providers for world-class governance.
What’s next?
At Jayva, we’re dedicated legal industry trainers with vast sector experience, ILFM-and-other-accounting qualifications, advanced technical know-how and unrivalled teaching skills – to solve your software, people, data and process conundrums. Don’t believe us? Our growing testimonials prove this bold claim.
To learn more, read our earlier blogs on the importance of training and preferred delivery methods, email info@jayvaglobal.com or visit www.jayvaglobal.com/training-services.
