Have you had a chance to page through LESA’s 2015/2016 Educational Calendar yet?
This year, we’re excited to offer over 45 live seminars for lawyers, articling students, and their staff!
Today’s blog offers some helpful hints and information to help you navigate the Educational Calendar and find the programs and resources that will suit your needs.
Tip #1: If you’re looking at our Calendar online, you’re using a linked PDF. When you find a program you’d like to register in, simply click the title and you’ll be directed to the online registration page.
Lawyers
In the Educational Calendar, you’ll find programs arranged by practice area (pages 2–10), with offerings in the following areas:
Business Law
Criminal Law
Family Law
Litigation
Real Estate
Specialized Programs
(for lawyers in any practice area)
Wills & Estates
When you are deciding what programs will meet your professional development needs, make sure you note the learning level listed beside the program title (Fundamental, Intermediate, Advanced, and All).
You may also want to check out the support staff program offerings (page 11). While programs for lawyers often focus on substantive law topics, support staff programs tend to focus more on practical applications. Depending on your practice area, experience, and needs, you may find that this year’s support staff programs have useful information to offer you as well.
For example, at last year’s Collections seminar, which was targeted to Legal Support Staff, we received this feedback from one attendee.
In the words of one lawyer, this was something all lawyers should sit in on.”
If you’re interested in checking out this program for yourself, you’re in luck as Collections is currently available as a seminar on demand.
Support Staff
LESA’s Educational Calendar has 5 legal support staff program titles this year (page 11) – ranging from general skills and knowledge programs to seminars targeted to support staff working in specific areas of the law.
If you’re interested in seeing more offerings targeted to specific practice areas, check out the offerings listed on pages 2 to 10. Although these programs are targeted at lawyers, support staff are encouraged to attend any program that fits their educational needs. This year, for example, we’re offering a series of fundamental drafting course that may benefit you:
- Technology Contracts (page 2)
- Corporate Drafting (page 2)
- Drafting Pleadings and Affidavits (page 6)
- Drafting Your First Will (page 10)
You may also want to check out this year’s Specialized Programs (page 7–9), which include practical skills and knowledge seminars:
- Discover how to use Microsoft® Outlook effectively.
- Check out sessions on accounting software (PCLaw and ESILaw).
- Delve into issues of surrounding privacy legislation.
Students
Did you know that law students and students-at-law are eligible to receive a 25% discount on many of our live seminars and educational resources, including seminars on demand?
Why not take advantage of this student bursary and jump start your career by gaining additional knowledge, skills, resources, and networking opportunities?
Flip through the LESA Educational Calendar to see the range of program offerings available this year. If you have any questions about what a program covers or how to register, let us know and we’re happy to help you find you the information you’re looking for. You can reach us at [email protected] or at 780.420.1987 (tollfree in Alberta at 1.800.282.3900).
Resources
As you’ve been hearing over the past year, we’ve started recording some of our live seminars and offering them to you afterwards as seminars on demand. Seminars on demand help add flexibility to meet the needs of your busy schedule: you can stream videos of seminar presenters and download course materials as PDFs.
You’ll find a list of currently available titles in the Educational Calendar (pages 14–16). You’ll also see this icon beside the titles of upcoming programs that we plan record and offer as seminars on demand.
Have you heard about the new LESA Library? It’s a subscription-based, online resource that brings you seminar papers and practice manual content all in one place. Check out page 13 of the Educational Calendar to learn more, and stay tuned for details as we make final preparations to launch this subscription service in the next few months.
