Legal/tax training: find the right instruction consultant

Let's face it: delivering effective legal and tax training and education often fails to be successful. Either the training is not delivered on time, exceeds budgets, or is generally underwhelming in terms of instruction.

In the field of legal and tax education, the role of an instructional consultant is crucial in order to avoid frustration, damaged reputation, and unnecessary costs. What specific skills should these professionals possess to help you complete your project within budget and on schedule?

These professionals must possess a unique blend of skills encompassing legal/tax expertise, instructional design prowess, and effective communication and organisational abilities. Let’s delve into some of the essential skills that make a legal instruction consultant stand out in their field.

1. Legal/Tax Expertise

A legal or tax instruction consultant needs to have a basic foundation in the (tax) law. They should possess an understanding of relevant legal and tax principles, regulations, and case law, and understand their practical application. They must be able to empathize with both the trainee and the trainer. To have productive and constructive discussions with the legal or tax subject matter experts (SMEs) who contribute to the training, the instructional consultants must be fluent in conversing about legal and tax matters and being sensitive to the SME's concerns. Without this skill, valuable time and energy is often wasted.

2. Instructional Design Skills

Crafting effective learning experiences requires more than just legal/tax knowledge; crucially, it demands strong expertise in instructional design. Consultants must be adept at defining clear learning objectives, and set criteria for and evaluate developed learning materials, course components, learning support and learner's assessments.

3. Communication Skills

Translating complex legal concepts into digestible content is no small feat. Exceptional communication skills are essential for conveying information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences, including those with varying levels of legal/tax literacy.

4. Analytical Skills

Legal instruction often deals with intricate issues that require careful analysis. Consultants must possess strong analytical abilities to deconstruct complex legal/tax concepts and relations and distil these into comprehensible components, learning tasks and supportive material for learners.

5. Adaptability

No two learners are alike. Successful legal instruction consultants must be adaptable, tailoring their instructional strategies and materials to accommodate the unique needs, preferences, and backgrounds of their audience.

6. Project Management

Managing the development and implementation of legal instruction programs requires meticulous planning and organization as well as internal marketing and motivation skills. Effective project management skills are crucial for ensuring that initiatives are completed within specified timelines and budgets.

7. Technology Proficiency

In today’s digital age, technology plays a vital role in enhancing learning experiences. Consultants should be proficient in leveraging instructional technology tools and platforms to create engaging and interactive learning environments.

8. Collaboration Skills

Legal instruction is a collaborative endeavour. Consultants must collaborate effectively with subject matter experts, instructional designers, and other stakeholders to create internal support and cohesive and impactful learning experiences. It's important to recognize the differences between these groups. Misunderstandings between instructional designers and legal or tax subject matter experts can often occur and hinder progress.

9. Evaluation and Assessment

Continuous improvement is key in legal instruction. Consultants should design robust assessment methods to measure learning outcomes, gather feedback, and refine instructional materials based on learner insights.

10. Ethical Considerations

Upholding ethical standards is paramount in legal education. Consultants must adhere to professional ethics and ensure that legal/tax instruction maintains the highest standards of accuracy, objectivity, and integrity.

In conclusion, mastering legal/tax instruction requires a multifaceted skill set encompassing legal/fiscal expertise, instructional design acumen, communication prowess, and a commitment to excellence. By honing these essential skills, legal/tax instruction consultants can empower learners to navigate the complexities of the law with confidence and competence. And...they will deliver effective legal/tax training both on time and within budget.