An Introduction to Legal Project Management

Introduction

In a legal environment where clients expect greater transparency, predictability and value, effective matter management has become essential. Legal Project Management (LPM) provides a structured yet practical approach to delivering legal work on time, on budget and to agreed outcomes.

Using the Legal Matter Lifecycle as a guide, this four-hour interactive session introduces the mindset and key principles of LPM, demonstrating how clear scoping, planning and communication can strengthen client relationships, enhance profitability and reduce risk.

It also provides a foundation for those who may wish to pursue formal professional certification, build a dedicated LPM function within their firm or department, or simply improve individual efficiency.

What You Will Learn

This course will cover the following:

• Understand the commercial drivers behind LPM and its link to pricing, efficiency and client value
• Recognise the core phases of a matter and how project thinking applies at each stage
• Identify common causes of scope creep, delay and cost overrun, and learn simple techniques to prevent them
• Appreciate the importance of stakeholder alignment, communication and risk management
• Gain familiarity with the four-phase framework (Define → Plan → Deliver → Close) as a practical reference model
• Explore quick-win techniques that can be applied immediately after the session
• Understand how process improvement complements project management in building repeatable, sustainable gains in efficiency and profitability
• Discover available next-step learning and accreditation pathways in LPM and Legal Process Improvement