KENYA SCHOOL OF LAW

ATP 106: LEGAL PRACTICE MANAGEMENT

COURSE OUTLINE

INTRODUCTION:

This unit in the ATP program is intended to introduce the learners to Management as a
discipline, and more so, to equip them with management skills, attitudes and competencies
that should enable them to mainstream management skills and concepts in law practice. At
the highest level of application, Legal Practice Management appropriately prepares the legal
practitioner to plan, start up and operate a law enterprise.

There are three sub units within LPM as a unit, namely Office Practice/Management
(trimester One), Human Resource Management (trimester two) and Accounting (trimester
three)

Instructors:
Mary Kimari- 0722 560226 e-mail Kimarim@yahoo.com,

Stephen NjugunaMwaura – 0722 609676 e-mail steve_ruga@yahoo.co.uk

Tobias Olweny –0733 913519 - toolweny@yahoo.com

FIRST TRIMESTER SEMESTER

OFFICE PRACTICE/MANAGEMENT

Course Objectives:

By the end of the course, the learner should be able to:

 Appreciate the relevance of management in professional practice

 Understand the role of management in a law firm.
 Apply the skills, competencies and attitudes required to operate an organization/office.
 Appreciate the systems, standards and procedure of an organization/office.
 Apply the various statutes relating to office practice.

Relevant Statutes
 The Constitution of Kenya (2010)
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 The Procurement & Disposal Act (2005)
 The Occupational Health And Safety Act (2007)
 Work Injury Benefits Act (2007)
 Retirement Benefits Act (2005)
 National Social Security Fund Act (2007)
 Labor Relations Act (2007)
 Labor Institutions Act (2007)
 Employment Act (2007

Core Reference Texts

Mary Kimari& Carol Mureithi, Office Practice Management (2014)

1. Benjamin F Yale
The Paperless Law Office: A practical Guide to digitally powering Your Firm
Publisher: American Bar Association

2. James M Kramoli
The Art of Talking To Clients, Colleagues and Others
Publisher: Aspen Publishers

3. Garrt A. Munneke
Introduction To Law Practice: Organizing and Managing Legal Work
Publisher: West Group

4. Mitchell Kowalski
Avoiding Extinction: Reimagining Legal Services For the 21st Century
Publisher: American Bar Association

5. Michael HK. Trotter

Declining Prospects: How Extraordinary Competition and Compensation are Changing America's
Law Firms, Publisher: Create Space Independent Publishers

6. Strategies for Growing a Law Firm: Leading Lawyers on Attracting Clients, Recruiting staff and
managing Law Firm Development. Publisher: Aspatore Books

7. Mike Young
Time Management for Lawyers: How to Double Your Free Time.
Pub: Createspace

8. Lori Tripoli
Contemporary Law Office Management
PUBL: Aspen Law

9. Brent Roper
Practical Law Office Management
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Publ: Delmar Learning

10. MCgraw-Hill
Law Office Management for Paralegals
Pub: McGrawHillPubl

THE MAIN TOPICS

1. INTRODUCTION TO MANAGEMENT
Topic Objectives:
By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to;
i. Define management
ii. Explain the basic functions of management
iii. Describe the role of management in law practice
iv. Explain the qualities of a competent manager.
v. Appreciate the value of management for a legal practioner
2. THE OFFICE
Topic Objectives;
By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to;
i. Define the term office
ii. Explain the functions of an office in a law firm
iii. Appreciate the role of an office in a law firm
iv. Describe the various types of business organizations

3. OFFICE ENVIRONMENT
Topic Objectives;
By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to;
i. Define the concept of office environment
ii. Explain the factors to consider in determining a law Office Location
ii. Explain the various types of office Laying out
iii. Describe the various factors to consider in determining interior office designs
iv. Appreciate the importance of health and safety as a factor in designing office layout.
v. Identify possible health and safety hazards in an office/organization
vi. Describe the components of a health and safety procedure and policy.
viii. Describe basic measures to be undertaking in planning and managing possible disaster
and crisis in an office/organization

4. OFFICE SERVICES
Topic Objectives;
By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to;
i. Explain the activities and tasks of the reception (front office) unit of a law office
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 ii. Explain the factors to consider in laying out a reception section of a law firm
iii. Appreciate the critical customer-care role of the receptionist/front office manager
iv. Explain the activities and tasks of the mail processing unit of an office
v. Describe the incoming and outgoing mail procedures
vi. Explain the activities and tasks of the filing (registry) unit of an office
vii. Appreciate the importance of filing and record keeping in a law firm.
viii. Describe the basic rules of filing and indexing.
ix.
5. OFFICE STANDARDS, POLICIES, SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES
Topic Objectives;
By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to;
i. Define standards, policies, systems and procedures.
ii. Explain the typical office standards, policies, systems and procedures in a typical law
office
iii. Appreciate the role of the office/business manager in the formulation of office
standards, policies, systems and procedures.
iv. Explain the importance of standards, policies, systems and procedures in a law
office.

6. OFFICE FACILITIES AND AUTOMATION

Topic Objectives;
By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to;
i. Identify typical office furniture
ii. Appreciate the need for choosing appropriately suitable office furniture
iii. Explain the factors to consider in determining suitability of office furniture
iv. Identify the essential office materials, stationery and related aids
v. Describe the factors to be considered in effective procurement of office
materials and furniture.
vi. Explain the essentials of effective storage and usage of office materials and
stationery
vii. Identify typical modern office machines and equipment
viii. Appreciate the Impact of Information and Communication Technology in a
Modern Office
ix. Appreciate the essence of records and record keeping in an office
x. Explain the key features of various filing classifications and filing methods.
xi. Describe the features of a good filing system in a law firm

7. Communication
Topic Objectives:
By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to;
i. Define the term communication

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 ii. Appreciate the importance of effective communication in the work place
iii. Explain the role of communication as a management tool.
iv. Describe the elements and principles of an effective communication process
v. Explain the key features of the various methods of communication in an
office/organization

8. OFFICE STAFF
Topic Objectives:
By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to;
i. Identify office personnel in a typical law firm.
Ii Describe the jobs and duties of various cadres of office staff
iii. Appreciate the relevance of informal interactions among staff
iv. Explain the impact of discrimination and harassment on office staff.
v. Identify possible unethical and bad etiquette behaviors to be avoided at
the work place.

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  SECOND TRIMESTER
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Course Objectives:

1. Cultivate the ability to evaluate and apply theories of Human Resource management to
workplace issues
2. Apply relevant statutes to the human resource function.
3. Acquire skills, attitudes and competences for effective utilization people in an
organization.

Statutes
i. Employment Act, 2007 (replaced Employment Act, Cap 226 and Regulation of Wages
and Conditions of Employment Act, Chapter 229)
ii. Labour Relations Act, 2007 (replaced the Trade Unions Act, Chapter 233 and the Trade
Disputes Act, Chapter 234)
iii. Work Injury Benefits Act, 2007 (replaced the Workmen’s Compensation Act, Chapter
236)
iv. Occupational Safety and Health Act, 2007 (replaced the Factories and Other Places of
Work Act, Chapter 514)
v. Labour Institutions Act, 2007
vi. Industrial Training Act, Chapter 237 (Revised 2011)
vii. Retirement Benefits Act
viii. Labour Institutions Act,2007

Reference Texts:

1. Core Text; Fundamentals of Human Resource Management – Armstrong

2. . Rodd Wagner
Elements of Great Management
Pub: Gallup Press

3. W Steven Brown
13 Fatal Errors Managers Make and How to Avoid Them
Pub: Berklley Pub Corp.

4. G. A Cole
Strategic Management
Pub: Continuum international Publishing Group
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 5. G A Cole
Management Theory and Practice
Publ: Letts Educational

6. Michael Armstrong
A Handbook of Management Techniques
Pub; Kogan Page Ltd.

7. G A Cole
Personnel Management
Pub: Letts Educational

8. Armstrong M
Armstrong's Handbook of Human Resources
Pub: Kogan Page Ltd

MAIN TOPICS

1. NATURE, SCOPE AND STRATEGIES OF HRM

TOPIC OBJECTIVES:
By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to;
i. Define the term and the concept of human resource management.
ii. Explain the importance and role of human resource management as a critical
function among the other functions in an organization.
iii. Describe the key functions of human resource management

2. HUMAN RESOURCE PLANNING

Topic Objectives:
By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to;
i. Define the term Human Resource Planning
ii. Explain the Purpose of HRP
iii. Describe the Process of HRP
iv. Appreciate the Benefits of HRP

3. PROCUREMENT OF EMPLOYEES
Topic Objectives:
By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to;
i. Appreciate the criticality of effective Recruitment, Selection, Socialization
(induction) and Placement of employees into an organization.
ii. Describe the Processes of Recruitment, Selection, induction and placement.
iii. Explain various Methods of internal and external recruitment

4. TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

Topic Objectives:
By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to;
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 i. Explain the concept of training and development
ii. Distinguish among education, training and development
iii. Describe the process of Training/development
iv. Conceptualize the theories of training and development
v. Explain the role of training/development In career planning, career
management and career development and internal mobility (promotion,
transfer etc.)
vi. Explain the techniques and methods of career develop.

5. REWARDING/COMPENSATING EMPLOYEES
Topic Objectives:

By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to;

i. Explain the main methods of rewarding employees

ii. Explain the factors to consider in designing a good reward scheme and policy

iii. Distinguish between monetary and non-monetary rewards and the significance
of each.

6. EMPLOYEE INTEGRATION

Topic Objectives:
By the end of the topic, the learners should be able to;
i. Define the concept employee integration
ii. Describe various key methods/techniques of integrating employees
iii. Appreciate the importance/significance of employee integration

7. MOTIVATING EMPLOYEES
Topic Objectives
By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to;
i. Conceptualize the term employee motivation
ii. Appreciate the role of motivation as a factor of performance
iii. Describe the various schools of thought (theories) of motivation
iv. Explain the typical methods/techniques of motivating employees.
v. Describe the process of job analysis as an element of employee motivation.
vi. Explain the process of job designing as an element of motivation for employees
vii. Describe the process of performance appraisal as an element of motivation.

8. MANAGING EMPLOYEE SEPARATION/DISENGAGEMENT

Topic Objectives:
By the end of the topic, the learner should be able to;
i. Define the concept of employee separation/disengagement
ii. Appreciate the importance of effective/appropriate separation management.
iii. Describe various separation causes/reasons/circumstances