Project management professionals (PMPs) complete project management (PM) training and earn their PMP certification. Graduates are formally recognized as professional project managers, capable of overseeing large projects.
Many professionals in leadership positions opt to complete their PMP certification. This training offers multiple benefits for individuals who need to oversee projects, coordinate staff, and manage project budgets. Legal professionals benefit from PMP training in several ways, which are explored here.
Lawyers need excellent management skills.
Personal injury lawyers in New Mexico work with clients who’ve been affected by injuries or wrongful deaths. They offer free consultations to potential clients to discuss their situation and ensure they have a viable legal case. Personal injury lawyers handle multiple personal injury cases simultaneously, so they need excellent organizational skills. A personal injury attorney interviews witnesses, negotiate claims with insurance companies, prepares and files legal paperwork, and gathers physical evidence, such as police reports and video footage. Personal injury lawyers also argue cases in court. Their job is to ensure their clients receive fair compensation for their medical bills, property damage, and pain and suffering stemming from the accident. Their clients include victims of car accidents, workplace accidents, and medical malpractice. Clients seek personal injury attorneys from reputable law firms with years of experience handling personal injury cases.
Lawyers such as Malliha Wilson may handle multiple types of cases. Wilson may be preparing human rights, Indigenous law, corporate law, and labor lawsuits simultaneously. Since Malliha’s clients’ needs vary widely, she needs excellent management skills to ensure her staff team meets filing deadlines and each case progresses as expected. As personal injury attorneys, Wilson may use junior partners, legal assistants, and paralegals to prepare legal documents, gather relevant data, and prepare legal arguments. She also draws on her experiences arguing cases before the Supreme Court of Canada when preparing clients’ cases.
Lawyers need to be up to date on all their cases simultaneously. Lawyers must assign tasks and deadlines to ensure cases progress on schedule. They must be aware of the current workload of their legal assistants, paralegals, and legal secretaries to ensure their workload is feasible. PMP certification benefits these attorneys because it emphasizes human resource management and trains students to oversee staff teams effectively.
PMP training helps leaders stay on budget.
Legal cases can be expensive, and cost management skills are crucial. Lawyers who fail to oversee the costs or attempt to keep cases on a budget may have financial issues if their clients can’t afford to pay. Budgetary issues may prompt an attorney to present their clients with different options.
For example, a client who can’t afford to spend more money preparing for a trial may opt to accept an out-of-court settlement. Personal injury attorneys, such as the lawyers with Davis Klein, don’t charge any fees until they win their clients’ cases, which means they must diligently oversee case budgets to ensure costs don’t exceed the expected settlement. PMP management training includes cost management training, which will help lawyers create accurate budgets and oversee costs to ensure their cases stay on budget.
PMP training promotes effective communication.
Clear communication is crucial for lawyers. These legal experts must make compelling arguments in court, explain laws and legal procedures to clients, instruct staff, and keep stakeholders informed. A junior partner will report to senior partners in their law firm and apprise them of their progress on specific cases. PMP certification programs include courses in stakeholder management and communication management, equipping students with the skills needed to satisfy their stakeholders and ensure they communicate effectively with clients and staff.
Legal administrators, assistants, and paralegals benefit from PMP training.
Paralegals may advance their careers by assuming the role of a law office administrator or senior legal assistant. Employees in these senior roles may be responsible for creating new processes and implementing new office protocols. Senior administrators and assistants with excellent management skills can find ways to increase efficiency, which will save their law firm money. PMP training reinforces the communication and organizational skills paralegals need to succeed in their roles. Earning PMP certification is an effective way for a paralegal to demonstrate they’re ready to assume more responsibility and fulfill a leadership role for their law firm.
Earning your PMP certification is convenient.
People who want to complete a project management certificate program can register to take their PM certification online. Online studies are convenient because students can attend courses anywhere they have a computer and internet connection. Whether you’re in the office or at home, you can log in and access your classes. PMP programs typically involve 35 class hours covering topics such as scope management, time management, quality management, and risk management. The course includes a practice exam to ensure students are ready to pass the exam and earn their certification. Students also receive 24/7 support from instructors, terminology flashcards, and practice tests. These resources ensure students have all the tools they need to complete the certification program.
Legal professionals may work on multiple cases simultaneously. They need excellent organizational skills to ensure staff meet deadlines and cases stay on budget. Project management training equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to manage projects from start to finish successfully.