THE SHACKLETON METHOD IN LEGAL EDUCATION

• By Frederick Price

• Senior Lecturer, College of Law

• frederick.price @lawcol.co.uk

Law DegreeLaw Degree

GDLGDL

LPCLPC

Training ContractTraining Contract

BVCBVC

PupillagePupillage

SolicitorSolicitor BarristerBarrister

Non Law DegreeNon Law Degree

Team model at the College

• Collegiate approach

• Enablement

• Consistency

• Upward management

Leadership: Sir Ernest Shackleton 1874 - 1922

The Endurance in pack ice

Map : Endurance expedition

Surviving on ice

Shackleton’s methods• Selective

information sharing

• Delegation

• Shepherding

• Short term planning

Shackleton’s methods• Dealing with

dissenters

• Decision management

• Mental strength

Application of Shackleton

The student at the College

Law The working worldSocietal

context

Shackletonian concepts

• Information sharing – ponder detail

• Delegation – colleagues

• Shepherding – collectivity

• Short term planning – encourage teamwork

Shackletonian concepts

• Dissenting voices – challenges

• Decision management

• Mental strength

Well known team models: Belbin

• Action orientation

• People orientation

• Thought orientation

Well known team models: Tuckman

• Forming

• Storming

• Norming

• Performing

• (Adjourning)

Key tasks of a team leader in the law

• Agenda setting

• Standards

• Decision making

• Delegation

• Upward management

Key tasks of a team leader in the law (continued)

• Consensus building

• Deadlines

• Maintaining morale

• Technology

• Stakeholder relations

A leadership template?

• Clients first!

• Consistency

• Flexibility

• Diversity

• Fairness

Future challenges?

• Ethical meltdown

• Expanding borders

• Changing technology

• The R word

• Lifestyle choices

Conclusion