Yep, you said that you would be doing that didn't you? You should definately add that in? (Sorry if I've skipped over it!)

Just read all this - think you could add a timetable to it. This should indicate what you should be learning within the internship and sets targets that can be measured. This should demonstarte that you have real learning objectives to be acheived. Also add in monthly formal reviews with formal feedback (looks more like a training programme with formal reviews) and definitely make sure you refer to courses you will be taking and call them a "requirement of the training" you will be undertaling.

Hope this helps.

Thank you!
 

OK I have finished it and just had email from Ron to say he is happy with it. If anyone has any opinions before I fax this to London please let me know! Probably wont paste very will and course I'm not asking anyone to read the whole thing - just point out anything glaringly obviously if you see anything!

Everyone - thank you so much! I know I'm a pain but I just want to make sure this is okay before it goes off.



Training Objectives – Answers to Questions 1 and 2

1. Methods Used to Provide On the Job Training

Intense and continually monitored training and imparting of knowledge by house counsel and existing senior paralegals and office staff in all departments with emphasis in pre and post closing departments, front desk, client relations and accounting. The main focus being on the following:-
Transfer of knowledge
Skill acquisition and practice
Coaching by the trainee's designated supervisor for each particular segment of the training plan.
Assessment of performance in transferring methods learned into practice (application of knowledge and skills).

This will be carried out in a number of ways, when the trainee spends a segment in each department, each designated supervisor, and the overall supervising attorney will explain the nature of that department and its functions, and on a daily basis, tasks will be demonstrated, with the trainee being requested to repeat at regular intervals. In support of the above, the office has a number of unique resources which are available to support both the trainee's and research and training. The firm has a fine legal library that contains many of the current professional law journals. In addition, any article or book the trainee wishes to obtain may be obtained through the Memphis Library on loan.

Also present in the office is an in house legal training system. The trainee will be encouraged to access this themselves. We have available a very user-friendly CD-ROM information database that covers journals in the field of Law and related disciplines.

In additional, technology training will be provided by a third party software provider which will enable trainee to operate legal software packages.

College training – paralegal level.

2. Skills and knowledge the trainee will acquire during the exchange. How will the above mentioned methods help achieve this?

The trainee will gain knowledge about the function of our organization in the context of providing legal services to demanding clients, and observe how attorneys and paralegals deal with the day-to-day demands of legal practice in preparation for the trainee's own future progression. The trainee will:-

· Increase their ability to analyze legal issues and knowledge of the real estate law through the completion of work assignments;
· Learn about the high level operations of a legal organization and the role of the attorney in the organization;
· Continue to develop and practice their legal research and writing skills;
· Analyze their performance through thoughtful self-assessment and supportive critique from supervisors and peers;
· Improve their interviewing, counseling and negotiations skills through observation and participation;
· Increase their knowledge of international real estate in order that trainee will be capable to function as an international real estate paralegal.
· Trainee will have the experience of learning about notarizing documents, the meaning of same and functioning as a notary public.

The previously mentioned training methods will help by imparting all of the necessary knowledge to the trainee, with the benefit of that knowledge coming from licensed attorneys, paralegals and and the college institution that the trainee attends. Under the guidance of the supervisor, the trainee will ultimately be capable of applying substantive knowledge of the law to analyze legal issues and complete work assignments.

3. Supervisory Methods.
The following supervision and feedback methods will be employed to accomplish the program goals. Primarily, throughout the duration of the program, issues arising from the Supervisor's assessment will be discussed in a weekly meeting with the trainee (Lesley). Feedback will be given as to her progress. Additionally, once a month there will be a meeting to discuss the traineeship in more detail. The trainee and supervisor will assess the core responsibilities and performances against goals agreed to when she commenced with our firm. The higher level supervisor (attorney) will give an overall performance rating. The trainee will also be asked, if they feel the objectives of the training plan are being met.
Reference supervision - a training approach will be used in which the program learning objectives are accomplished primarily through experiential learning under the supervision and mentoring of licensed attorneys and paralegals. All work performed by the trainee during the training program duration will be under the supervision of a licensed paralegal. Essentially, Lesley will work with and will be supervised constantly by a senior paralegal and on occasion, an attorney.
As a trainee who is under constant supervision, we envisage developing the trainee's core competencies and she will learn to gradually be capable of increasing professional responsibility. The training plan is obviously primarily learning-oriented and training considerations take precedence over service delivery, which is why Lesley will be constantly supervised at almost all times. Her training, on a given rotation will follow a progression from observation to increasingly autonomous, albeit monitored and supervised, activity. This progression might typically include:
1. observation of a supervisor performing a variety of legal and specialized duties in various departments, thereafter being questioned on the same procedures.
2. simulated practice of specific skills;
3. assessment and studying, conducted jointly by the trainee and supervisor;
4. supervisor directly observing Lesley performing assessment or intervention with clients;
5. audio taping of Lesley during supervised client meetings - for subsequent assessment and review;
6. Lesley gives written or verbal summaries of legal procedures, in supervision.
The trainee will receive a minimum of 25 hours of supervision each week – the remainder of time will be undergoing tasks set for her and these will be monitored closely and feedback given on a weekly basis. A complement to the formal supervision is the role modeling and mentoring Lesley will get from working with her supervising colleagues. In addition to the above supervision, she will also participate in didactic seminar style meetings on topics related to her training.

Department/Area Task/Activities Objectives of Training Segment Task time / Time in Department
Real Estate General – Learning Principles of Real Estate Law Overview of licensing as a real estate closer and paralegal, supervisor will cover ethics of practice, titles to and conveyancing of real estate, legal descriptions, distinctions between personal and real property, regulations, and at least 3 classroom hours of instruction on federal, state and local laws relating to housing discrimination and the law relating to this sector, introduction to contract writing. A general introduction to the operations of real estate law in practice and strict guidelines that must be adhered to in order to practice as a real estate attorney or paralegal. 6 months concluding with appraisal and performance review.


Department/Area Task/Activities Objectives of Training Segment Task time / Time in Department
National Academy for Paralegal Studies, Memphis, TN. Real estate paralegal course studies. Formal educational qualification 4 hours per week at college, 10 hours per week home study.
HUD 1 and Accounting Department Learn income audits, preparation of financial statements, check issuance procedures, monitor, scrutinize and report on bank and mortgage lender documents, establish and maintain escrow accounts, the reason for using them and how to maintain on a daily basis. Learning about the complex nature of HUD 1 and and associated components. To gain an understanding of the all financial aspects of a law firm and in particular real estate tranasctions. Observe and participate at professional level in many aspects of real estate finance and asset management but also general accounting procedures. 6 months. Rotating through inter-departmental studies and constant assessment and supervision as described in training methods.
Pre and Post Closing Department Through the time training in this department the trainee will learn how to prepare international real estate contracts, learn to examine title records, and review and prepare accompanying legal documents at attorney level. Trainee shal learn Laws of Agency, Laws of Contracts, Real Estate Marketing and Real Estate Mathematics. The trainee will be comprehensively coached in the complex procedures relating to real estate law, including international aspects and more particularly the trainee will be educated on how to prepare various legal documents that an attorney or senior paralegal would prepare and scrutinize which are used worldwide, such as HUD1 settlement statement, compliance agreements, Affidavits, various IRS forms, loan applications. To be capable of acting as a paralegal at attorney level, incorporating adopting the varying methods of real estate transactions, law and procedures and developing a highly tuned client relation skills. 6 months. Constant supervision and moving to next level as college learning and day to day coaching progresses, continually monitoring progress at each stage together with formal educational progress.Final evaluation and feedback at end of period.

Looks great Lesley, can't think of anything else. Did you have any luck with American-focused UK-based law firms?