How PREP is developing skills that go beyond the text

Developing a firm understanding of the law and its application is a foundational component of legal education in Canada. While being able to reference precedent and having a thorough grasp on the intricacies of the judicial system are critical towards success, there are other key skills that go a long way which cannot be learned through reading a text.

Labelled “soft skills” in the professional world, the ability to communicate effectively using spoken word, convey your point clearly and concisely, and broadly convey confidence while speaking in front of a crowd are all vital elements towards becoming a successful lawyer.

So, between the long study sessions and grueling text-based curriculum, how can law students gain the experience to develop this skillset? That is exactly why CPLED developed PREP.

The Practice Readiness Education Program or PREP was designed by the Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (CPLED), a non-profit organization that provides the training students require before becoming a lawyer in Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan. PREP is designed to turn today’s law school graduates into the lawyers of tomorrow.

Built on best practices around the world, PREP delivers practical skills and competencies in an integrated approach that combines interactive, transactional learning and simulation within four distinct phases, each providing students with an opportunity to interact with lawyers, instructors and even simulated clients to improve their competencies.

So what skills will PREP help students develop? Here are just a few:

Interviewing clients – Having the opportunity to practice mock-interviews with clients and being evaluated for their approach will help develop an understanding of what a student does well, and what skills need to be worked on.

Negotiating with other lawyers – An important skill that can’t be taken from text alone, students will practice with negotiating and be evaluated on their performance.

Responding with empathy – Empathy is a crucially important skill, and it is vital to have a clear understanding of when it should be relied on.

Displaying confidence with public speaking – Public speaking is a genuine point of panic for many professionals. Like anything, practice makes perfect, and PREP can help get students comfortable.

Being professional – As with any profession, there is an element of professionalism that is expected. PREP will help give students a head start on understanding the nuances of the professional landscape.

Ready to jump in? Find out more about PREP and how it can jump-start the development of your legal soft skills at www.cpled.ca.