Course Overview

Personal injury (PI) practitioners operate in an increasingly challenging environment, where changes in law and procedure, fixed costs, increasing client expectations, technological developments and commercial pressures all impact on the successful delivery of claims.

This course provides a practical and commercially focused overview of the key knowledge, skills and working practices required to succeed in modern personal injury practice. It explores how legal and procedural knowledge can be applied effectively to progress claims, while also considering the operational and commercial factors that underpin a profitable and sustainable PI practice.

Participants will develop an understanding of effective case management, investigation and evidence gathering, drafting, negotiation, funding and costs management. The course also considers time recording, efficient working practices, knowledge management, AI, systemisation and risk management, alongside client care and quality service delivery.

By combining legal knowledge with practical case-handling skills and an understanding of the wider business environment, the course aims to help practitioners future-proof their practice, improve outcomes for clients and manage claims efficiently and profitably.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the course, participants should be able to:

• Apply legal and procedural knowledge effectively to the conduct and successful resolution of personal injury claims.
• Manage time and resources effectively, including understanding the importance of accurate time recording and efficient working practices.
• Recognise and respond to defendant tactics designed to delay, restrict or increase the cost of pursuing a claim.
• Use knowledge management effectively, including understanding how AI and other technology can support efficient and effective PI practice.
• Understand costs management principles and appreciate their impact on the conduct and profitability of claims.
• Interpret and use financial information to monitor performance, manage resources and support the profitability of PI work.
• Understand the role of systemisation, risk management and client care in delivering a consistent, high-quality service.
• Effectively investigate personal injury claims, identifying the evidence required to establish liability, causation and quantum, particularly within a fixed-costs environment.
• Develop and use case plans and case reviews to identify issues, manage risk and progress claims effectively.
• Understand the different methods of funding personal injury claims and the implications of funding choices for clients and practitioners.
• Draft effective legal documents, including statements of case, witness statements and skeleton arguments.
• Develop effective negotiation skills and understand the key principles and processes involved in negotiating the resolution of claims.
• Understand the wider business context of personal injury practice, including the relationship between legal service delivery, efficiency, risk, client expectations and commercial sustainability.
• Integrate legal, operational and commercial considerations to deliver a high-quality, efficient and profitable personal injury service.