Monitoring of training contracts - recruitment of monitors

The monitoring of training contracts scheme has been in place for more than a year.

Feedback has been positive and the Law Society is now recruiting additional monitors to undertake visits to training establishments to assess the training provision.

The Society is recruiting a number of monitors for the following regions: l two monitors for London; l two monitors for North Wales and the North West to include Cumbria, Lancashire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester;l two monitors for the Eastern Region to include Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, and;l one monitor for the Midlands.To be a monitor you will need to be a qualified solicitor with experience of: working/dealing with trainee solicitors in practice; training, for example, as a course tutor, training manager etc; and the training scheme for trainee solicitors.

It is also desirable to have experience of training supervisors.You will be expected to undertake approximately one visit each month and to submit a report on your findings.

You will also be required to attend a compulsory training course prior to undertaking any visits.

The fee is 200 plus reasonable travelling expenses for each visit.To apply for the post of monitor, send a CV with a covering letter detailing relevant experience to: Marilyn Cross, Team Manager - Monitoring of Training, Legal Education & Training, the Law Society, Ipsley Court, Berrington Close, Redditch , Worcs B98 0TD, DX 19114 REDDITCH.

For additional information, tel: Marilyn Cross on 0207 316 5744.The closing date for applications is 23 November 2001.

A selection day will be held in Redditch on 11 December 2001.

Selection will take a full day and will involve individual and group exercises, role play and an interview.

Law Society seeks educational consultant

The Law Society has been developing proposals for a training framework to cover the education, training and professional development of solicitors throughout their careers from the student stage onwards.

A consultation paper was issued in July 2000 and a conference to discuss the proposals and the responses was held on 5 October.

The Society now seeks a consultant to advise on progressing the proposals for a competency-based framework for training.

The consultant will require the equivalent of 12 days' work to be completed by 30 January 2002 and attendance at meetings on at least three other days at a fee of 350 a day.

Proposals to undertake the work will have to be submitted by 30 November 2001.For details and information pack contact Jo Welsh at the Law Society, Ipsley Court, Redditch, Worcs, B98 OTD; tel: 020 7320 5882.

Chief assessor appointed to civil and commercial mediation panel

The Law Society has appointed Miryana Nesic of Hammonds Suddard Edge Solicitors, London, to the post of chief assessor to the civil and commercial mediation panel.Ms Nesic will take a leading role in the selection and training of a panel of assessors to mark applications against the Society's standards, and be responsible for ensuring the quality and consistency of the assessment processes for initial accreditation and re-accreditation.

The chief assessor will also assist the Society with further development and review of the scheme.

It is expected that the civil and commercial mediation panel will be launched before the end of 2001.

Those interested in joining the panel should contact the Law Society's information services, tel: 01527 504433 to leave their details for inclusion on the mailing list.

For information, e-mail panels@lawsociety.org.uk or visit www.panels.lawsociety.org.uk

Appointment of chief assessor for the criminal litigation accreditation scheme

The Law Society has appointed David Campbell of Bristol-based Sansbury Campbell Solicitors to the post of chief assessor to the criminal litigation accreditation scheme.Mr Campbell will take a leading role in the selection and training of a panel of assessors to mark applications against the Society's standards, and be responsible for ensuring the quality and consistency of the assessment processes for initial accreditation and re-accreditation.

The chief assessor will also assist the Society with further development and review of the scheme.

Membership of the criminal litigation accreditation scheme qualifies a solicitor to apply for inclusion on a local duty solicitor scheme under the Legal Services Commission Criminal Defence Service Duty Solicitor Arrangements 2001.

For details, contact the Law Society's information services, tel: 01527 504433.