Local Government Legal Services Reform

22nd March 2010 Central London

The Lawyer’s 2nd annual conference on local government legal services will this year address some of the practical challenges public sector lawyers are facing today – most notably, how to do more with less.

As you know, there is no one-size-fits-all rule in local government and we have strived to ensure that you are able to share your experiences and discuss your key challenges with your peers through a series of panel sessions, workshops and networking events – including a chance to wind down and discuss the day’s events at the sit-down lunch and post conference drinks reception.

Themes to be developed this year include:

• How can you genuinely cut costs without reducing your head count
• Proven routes towards generating new revenue streams
• How to go about developing partnerships with other councils, blue-light services and the private sector
• What practical steps can you take in order to put together an effective marketing and business development plan
• How do you implement change and get buy-in from your stakeholders

As you can see overleaf, Geoff Wilde, Head of Legal, Kent County Council, will tell you the steps he has taken in order to form partnerships with the private sector in order to create a unified package of service.

He will be joined by Philip Thompson (Essex) and Richard Williams (Cornwall) as they debate the biggest challenges being faced by legal departments today – including what you can do to cut costs whilst increasing revenue streams.

Our second interactive panel includes Lois Howell (NHS Medway Trust), Michelle Buttery (West Mercia Police), Martin Ryan (Association of North East Councils), and Jan Boud (Greater London Authority). They will share their views on developing partnerships, shared services and the advantages the public sector has when bidding for contracts with the blue-light services.

In addition to this, the conference will help identify and develop the unique skills you and your teams have at your disposal through a series of four practical workshops.

Penny Osborne (Northamptonshire) will share with you her expertise in motivation, recruitment and retention, bringing her private practice and in-house council experience to the table to tell you why she thinks public sector law is amongst the most rewarding and challenging careers in the legal field

Marketing Guru Sean McPheat (MTD Training) will give you some relevant, real world practical marketing tips you can implement today

LexisNexis will show you how you can utilise technology to help restructure, refocus and drive out inefficiencies in your department

Liz Treacy (Manchester) will tell you how she has helped drive up standards and provide increased stakeholder delivery with a practical guide to achieving Lexcel accreditation

NOTE:

We've now set up a Linkedin Group specifically for those working in Local Government / Public Service Law which will provide a forum for delegates and speakers to talk before and after the conference and to keep the discussions open for as long as you wish. Join here: