I think it was around 2013 when I first became aware of the term “accidental manager”. It refers to people who find themselves in managerial roles when it was never really their plan and they haven’t had any particular training on management skills. I realised that the term applied to almost every manager I knew across the legal and advice sector, and it also began to explain why, as a management consultant, I was spending so much of my time helping unravel seemingly avoidable problems.
Then in 2015 leading sector consultant Vicky Ling spotted an advert saying that the UK Commission for Education & Skills was looking to fund the development of management training. She spoke to Carol Storer, the then Director at the Legal Aid Practitioners Group, and Carol roped me in.
That funding developed the LAPG Certificate in Practice Management. This course, now the Management Skills for Private Practice programme, remains the only bespoke management training programme for small and medium sized legal practices, and especially those doing legal aid work. If you are a manager in a firm like that then you should consider whether you or your colleagues might benefit from attending. You can find details on the LAPG website here.
However, things have moved on a little in terms of what’s on offer to the non-profit legal and specialist advice sector. In those early and dark months of Covid and the lockdowns in 2020, a group of funders came together to see what they could do to support the sector through what was, on almost every measure, an existential threat. I’m honoured to say that they asked me to join their ranks and, along with a steering group made up of amazing people from right across the sector, we created the Community Justice Fund.
Its main purpose was, of course, to provide emergency funding but based on feedback from the steering group and grantees it was clear that funding was not enough. Many agencies needed other more direct support to help them through the crisis. As a response we launched our Funder Plus programme which included funded consultancy along with the creation of a bespoke expanded management training programme aimed specifically at the needs on non-profit advice organisations. Vicky and I deconstructed the existing Certificate in Practice Management and rebuilt it for the non-profit sector and thus the LAPG Management & Leadership Programme was born.
Since then, and with the support of the Community Justice Fund, the Legal Education Foundation, and the AB Charitable Trust, we have been able to run the Programme 3 times and have now seen over 150 participants from every type of non-profit advice organisation and from every corner of the UK. The latest programme concluded in mid-July 2023 and the next will launch its application process in September with the course starting proper in January 2024.
The Programme covers everything from budgets to fundraising; setting strategy to risk management; governance to communications; and recruitment to exit interviews. Basically, as much as we can sensibly shoehorn in that will be useful to existing and future sector managers. Here’s what a few of this year’s participants have said about it:
“This course has completely changed the way I approach my work and the way I approach managing my team – it’s changed the way I think and has given me confidence in my decisions, and the skills to make sure those decisions are the right ones. I will use the knowledge and skills I’ve gained over the past 8 months for the rest of my career.”
Olivia Sykes, Kirklees Citizens Advice and Law Centre
“This course came at just the right time for me as I stepped into the role of Chief Executive.
It has allowed me the time to reflect and learn and build on my leadership skills. Sharing information, knowledge and experiences with others in the sector has been invaluable. The learning has helped with practical situations within my role.
Many thanks for the opportunity!”
Vici Richardson, Disability North
“I am at an early stage in becoming a manager and supervisor. This course has given me an opportunity to learn from the experts and to speak with lots of colleagues across the sector in a confidential and supportive environment. It has helped me to develop my management style and to grow in confidence.”
Siobhan Taylor-Ward, Vauxhall Law Centre
“I'm currently on the Management and Leadership Programme and it's already having a positive influence in my management and leadership skills. The course tutors are exceptional, the materials are fantastic and the opportunity to learn from the experiences of peers is extremely helpful.”
Laura Holland, North Yorkshire Citizens Advice and Law Centre
“The Management and Leadership programme has been an invaluable experience. Matt and Vicky have an incredible expertise to share with participant and I’ve learned so much from them both, but also the others in my cohort. The challenges and solutions discussed have been of great help as I develop my own approach and build my confidence as a senior manager.
Without the financial support which made my participation possible this is not a course my organisation would have been able to afford but, several months in, I’m not sure what organisation could afford not to benefit from the knowledge and skills it offers participants.”
Stephen Cutter, Release Legal Emergency & Drugs Service
I honestly believe that this Programme, provided we keep it up to date and reflective of current challenges, is a critical element of every manager’s career pathway in the specialist advice sector. Vicky, some of our new trainers and I are sitting down in September to see what we need to do to update the Programme for 2024.
We’re also hoping to launch an online Introduction to Management course in late September. We will hopefully also develop a separate Advanced Leadership Programme, and based on feedback from this year’s participants (and subject to finding the funding), will hold our first face to face Management & Leadership Symposium later in the year.
The challenges facing the advice sector are huge, not least because ever-increasing demand is not matched by the level of funding available. To tackle these challenges we need to make sure that everyone in the sector, including managers, are as skilled and prepared as they can be. The LAPG Management & Leadership Programme is our way of helping.
If you are interested in the 2024 Programme, either for yourself or one of your staff, then look out for the launch in September. Each year the generosity of funders means that we can offer 24 completely free places and about a further 6 heavily subsidised places.
Matthew Howgate FCMI
Director of the LAPG Management & Leadership Hub
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