Sue-Ella Prodonovich and Sam Coupland, co-facilitators of Business Skills for Lawyers online workshop.
Business Skills for Lawyers is a one-day online workshop designed for lawyers at experienced associate to junior partner level working in private legal practices in Australia or New Zealand. It covers law firm financial management, pricing, BD strategy, marketing, and practice growth. The programme is co-facilitated by Sue-Ella Prodonovich of Prodonovich Advisory and Sam Coupland of FMRC, who have worked together for more than a decade designing and delivering programs for mid-sized law firms across Australia and New Zealand. Attendance is accredited for CPD/MCLE points, subject to relevant state rulings.
Business Skills For Lawyers
This one-day online intensive workshop equips lawyers with the business skills they require to add value to their practice and develop their career.
There are two parts to this workshop. The morning session (9-12pm) is facilitated by Sam Coupland, FMRC and covers current market conditions and financial mechanics of a legal practice. The afternoon session (1-4pm) is facilitated by Sue-Ella Prodonovich. It concentrates on building a practice with Strategy, Marketing and Business Development topics.
Those who attend either the full-day or afternoon session will also have the option of a private BD45 session as a follow-up. These 45-minute one-to-one business development discussions with Sue-Ella are provided at no additional charge.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
This workshop is suitable for all professionals, and Practice Managers, working in a private legal practice, but the following groups should be able to really take advantage of it:
Associates with 4-6 yrs PQE who want to fast-track their careers with purposeful contributions to their practice group or Firm.
Senior Associates and Special Counsel preparing for the next step of their career.
Junior Partners who want to re-fresh their skills for greater leadership responsibilities.
Practice Managers who want to polish up their Pricing or Business Development skills to further support their Firm.
PARTICIPANTS WILL FOCUS ON…
Strategic issues facing the profession
The financial mechanics of a legal practice and what they can do to improve productivity and profitability
Understanding the cost of production of different matters
An introduction to the ways in which legal practices position themselves and compete in the market
What is needed to gain more business from their known network
Ideas for attracting new business
How to build networks
WHEN: This one is from 9am-4pm AEDT on Tuesday 23 February 2027. The program will also be run on Tuesday 23 March, 2027.
WHERE: Online
YOUR INVESTMENT
$990 (inc GST) per person for the full-day registration or $660 (inc GST) per person for a half-day registration.
If registering for a half-day then you can choose either;
The morning with Sam Coupland on Business Management Matters + Financials + Costing & Pricing legal services (9-12pm AEST); OR
The afternoon with Sue-Ella Prodonovich on Practice Strategy & Planning + Marketing + Developing New Business (1-4pm AEST)
The sessions will not be recorded.
CPD / MCLE: Subject to specific requirements of relevant State rulings, attendance at this workshop allows participants to earn MCLE / CPD points.
TRANSFER, CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS. We recognise that busy practitioners lead busy lives. If your circumstances change and you need to cancel your enrolment prior to the commencement of the course, then we will refund any fees paid. You can also transfer your enrolment to a future course. We also reserve the right to cancel workshops due to insufficient registrations.
PRIVATE WORKSHOPS: If you would like to run a private skills workshop for your team then please contact Monica Infante with your enquiry and dates info@fmrc.com.au
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Business Skills for Lawyers cover?
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The online workshop runs across two sessions. The morning session, facilitated by Sam Coupland of FMRC, covers current market conditions, the financial mechanics of a legal practice, and the cost of production of different matter types, including pricing. The afternoon session, facilitated by Sue-Ella Prodonovich, covers practice strategy, positioning, marketing, and building new business, including how to develop a network and win work from existing contacts.
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The workshop is designed for lawyers working in private legal practice in Australia and New Zealand. It is particularly well suited to associates with four to six years PQE looking to fast-track their careers, senior associates and special counsel preparing for partnership, junior partners refreshing their skills, and practice managers wanting to strengthen their BD or pricing knowledge.
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Yes - in most states except Western Australia. Check the specific requirements of relevant state rulings and requirements applicable to their jurisdiction.
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Full-day registration (9am–4pm AEST) is $990 including GST. Half-day registration is $660 including GST. Half-day participants choose either the morning session with Sam Coupland or the afternoon session with Sue-Ella Prodonovich.
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Yes. Both the morning session (9am–12pm AEDT) and afternoon session (1pm–4pm AEDT) are available as standalone half-day registrations. See the booking links above for your preferred session.
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No. The sessions are not recorded. Attending live is the only way to access the content and to qualify for CPD points.
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Participants who attend either the full day or the afternoon session are offered a complimentary BD45™ session with Sue-Ella Prodonovich -a private 45-minute one-to-one business development consultation.
This program has been prepared by Sue-Ella Prodonovich and Sam Coupland, FMRC.
Sue-Ella Prodonovich MBA, BCom (Hons), BSc is one of Australia’s leading specialists in business development for law and accounting firms, with more than 20 years’ experience and a Fellow of the College of Law Firm Management.
Sam Coupland BEcon, Grad Dip Fin Mgt, CA, is Director of FMRC and Australia’s foremost authority on law firm valuations, strategic planning, and the financial management of legal practices, with more than 25 years advising firms across Australia and New Zealand.
Sue-Ella and Sam have worked together for more than a decade designing and facilitating programs for mid-sized law firms in Australia and New Zealand.
Please respect our copyright and the effort taken to produce the original material. This program and any portion of it, may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the authors.