For practicing solicitors, CPD courses are valuable for more than just the CPD points they provide. They also offer unmissable learning opportunities, networking opportunities, and various other career development opportunities that could be squandered if you attend unprepared.
Here are some tips to help you prepare for your next CPD course and get the most out of it.
Set Clear Learning Objectives
Before attending a CPD course, it's always a good idea to review the course outline and make a note of which aspects of the course will address your specific knowledge gaps and skills.
Make sure that you have a clear idea of how the topics covered relate to your specific area of practice, and take note of what kind of practical insights you hope to gain.
Review Relevant Case Law And Legislation
Try to review recent case law and legislative updates prior to attending a legal CPD seminar. This can help ensure that you have any controversial or evolving legal principles related to the topic at hand fresh in your mind.
This will contribute to you being able to internalise the learnings much more effectively and will also help you engage better in discussions and ask more insightful questions.
Prepare For Networking
As mentioned, in-person CPD courses are valuable not only for learning but also for networking with peers. This aspect can be extremely valuable for building contacts and furthering your career.
Therefore, ensure that you have business cards ready to go and come mentally prepared to network - not only with other attendees but also with key speakers whom you may have identified beforehand as individuals you would like to connect with.
Prepare to arrive early or stay after the session to engage in discussions with fellow legal practitioners about legal trends, best practices, and potential collaborations.
Plan For Practical Application
Before you even attend a CPD course, it's always good to think about how the insights from the course could be implemented in your practice. You might want to discuss with your team how you could integrate some of the learnings into new legal strategies to improve your firm's capabilities.
Prepare to write a summary or briefing for your colleagues, as this will not only reinforce your learning and concretise your own professional development, but it can also serve to benefit your colleagues as well.
Legalwise Seminars offers a wide range of solicitors CPD courses in person, online, and on demand. Sign up for notifications about our seminars today, or contact us now for further information.
