Training Advisory Board Ten Initiatives for the Year Ahead

October 1, 2008

Author: Jerry Wein

The Training Advisory Board (TAB) invites all legal assistance staff to work with us in pursuing the training and support initiatives described in this article.  For more information about any of the initiatives or if you are interested in volunteering to work on any of them please contact Jerry Wein (585) 295-5721 or Michelle Peterson (585) 295-5729 at Empire Justice or your TAB representative listed at the end of this article.

1.  Provide Traditional Statewide Training for New Lawyers

In the next year we will deliver a state-wide Basic Lawyering Skills Training (BLST) at a centrally located conference facility.  The training will provide necessary transition CLE credits for new attorneys and cover topics such as: Role of Legal Services Advocates, Interviewing and Counseling, Case Planning, Discovery, Negotiation, Trial Planning, Trial Advocacy, Survival Tips for New Attorneys.

Volunteers Needed:  Experienced attorneys to review materials and serve as BLST trainers.

2.  Provide Low Cost/No Cost Regional Training in Basic Paralegal Skills, Negotiation Skills and Administrative Hearing Skills

In order to reduce travel and overnight expenses, we will provide two and three day skills training in regional settings.  For training sites we will use local offices in centralized locations.  Materials and trainer training, training coordination, CLE accreditation where appropriate, will be provided by Empire Justice.

Volunteers Needed: Experienced attorneys or paralegals to serve as trainers in Basic Paralegal Skills, Negotiation Skills and Administrative Hearing Skills.

3.         Provide Train the Trainer Training (T3) to Support In-house Delivery of Training

Train the Trainer trainings (generally one day in duration) will be scheduled in four or five regional locations.  This training will identify trainers throughout legal services projects in New York and prepare them to deliver Modular Trainings developed by the Advisory Board.

Volunteers Needed:  Staff willing to attend T3 and serve as lead trainers in delivering modular training.

4.  Create Modular Training for In-House and Regional Training Focusing on Case Handling and Discovery

Modular training will provide materials and trainer guides to allow legal services projects to conduct in-house training.  Case Planning and Discovery is a high priority for staff based on our training survey conducted earlier this year.

Modular training will develop "free standing" two hour training packets. These modular trainings will be recorded for use at all local delivery sites and will be made available through the Internet.  CLE credits may also be included.

Volunteers Needed:  Experienced advocates to assist in developing modules on Case Planning and Discovery topics (Developing a Theory of the Case, Legal and Factual Analysis, Formal and Informal Discovery, Conducting Depositions, Compelling Discovery, Evidentiary Issues, Using A Trial Notebook, etc.)

5.  Replicate In-House Training Developed by New York Legal Services Organizations

Does your organization have materials that you use for in-house training?  If so, we'd like to review the materials and see if we can put them into a standard format and make them available to legal services groups throughout New York.

Volunteers Needed:  Advocates to identify existing in-house training materials and assist in reviewing materials and developing modules.

6.  Build an "On Demand" Web Training Library

With the assistance of WNYLC, we hope to record New York legal services staff on the things they know well -- basic subjects such as introductions, overviews, things every advocate should know about -- in the substantive and skills areas our offices cover.  We also want to record practice tips and learning from recent litigation efforts and advocacy projects while they are fresh in mind.

Recording these topics will allow us to present staff members' area of expertise to individuals and groups around the state without leaving the office.  This will free staff from the expense of travel to central locations to receive training and will allow all staff access to knowledge at a time best suited to their learning needs.  These recordings can also be used for new staff orientations as well as for experience staff who need to revisit a specific topic.

Volunteers Needed:  Advocates who have expertise and willingness to share their thoughts for web presentations.  Please note:  Advocates who volunteer to make presentations will have help from Empire Justice and WNYLC staff in preparing and presenting their work.

7.  Build on Existing Task Forces and/or Create New Ones to Provide Substantive Training and Identify Emerging Issues

We are asking TAB members to survey their organizations to determine whether task forces should be revitalized, strengthened or created as a vehicle to deliver substantive trainings.

Volunteers needed:  Experienced advocates willing to assist in development of task forces.

8.  Explore Social Networking Applications to Determine Their Usefulness in Supporting the Development and Delivery of Training to Legal Services Personnel

We want to explore Social Networking applications and determine how useful they may be in supporting the development and delivery of training to legal services personnel.

Volunteers Needed:  Staff willing to share their experience and expertise with Social Networking.

9.  Develop A Supervisors' Forum to Discuss Issues and Concerns of Supervisors and Provide a Place Where Supervisors Can Learn and Get Help From Other Supervisors

We plan to develop a "Supervisors' Forum" that meets electronically three or four times a year.  The forum will discuss issues and concerns of supervisors, providing a place where supervisors can learn and get help from other supervisors.

Volunteers Needed:  Supervisors willing to participate in and possibly help organize the forum.

10.  Create a Litigators Network to Train Attorneys and Provide Mentors

We plan to create a Litigators' Network to identify training areas, develop training responses, and provide mentors to younger lawyers to meet individual learning needs.  The Litigators' Network will meet electronically three to four times a year and members of the network will take responsibility for the training content.  Creation of a Litigators' Listserv is possible.  Development and coordination of the mentoring program will be provided by Empire Justice Center.

Volunteers Needed:  Attorneys willing to help organize the network and serve as mentors.

Please give us a call or contact your TAB representative if any of these initiatives interest you.  Thanks.

Training Advisory Board