Our Leadership Institute curriculum is built around seven core competencies that effective leaders must possess: these are both a yardstick against which progress can be measured, and a clear path for mentors and fellows alike to follow:

Core competencies - narrative summary

Curriculum topics under each competency are set out below.

1. COMMUNICATING STRATEGIC INTENT

·         The values, vision and mission of legal aid – and what these mean for us

·         Communications and media strategies

·         Crafting a message – getting it right for your audience

2. SELF AWARENESS

·         The effect of preconceptions

·         Self assessment and personality types

·         360 feedback – how others see us and what it means

3. ACHIEVING WORKABLE UNITY

·         Collaborative decision-making and other decision-making models

·         Relationship skills, meeting planning, and facilitation tools

·         Cultural competence and cross-cultural communications 

4. SYSTEMS AND STRATEGIC THINKING 

·         Problem analysis - cause and effect

·         Stakeholder analysis, power mapping, and environmental scanning

·         Issue and tactic selection strategies for advocacy campaigns

5. DELIVERING ON STRATEGIC INTENT

·         Defining goals

·         Project planning, team management, and resource budgeting

·         Outcome measurement and evaluation

6. DEVELOPING NEW LEADERS

·         Mentoring skills – working with, and as, a mentor

·         Learning styles and issues of difference

·         Feedback and critiquing skills

7. FOSTERING THE PROCESS OF RENEWAL 

·         Community listening techniques for legal aid programs