Professional Development Workshops

Organising a PD Workshop

Finding a topic

Professional Development Workshops may address a wide range of topics. Their open and straightforward format also makes PD Workshops a well accessible type of event to organise. They therefore constitute a flexible tool for complementing the calendar of Professional Development events throughout a board term. 

The first step in organising a Professional Development Workshop is to determine the topic to be addressed. When selecting a topic, it is important to bear in mind the scope of the Professional Development Area and to ensure that the chosen theme remains aligned with the fundamental purpose of Professional Development, strengthening the students professional competencies and giving them practical abilities relevant to their future careers. Therefore, a PD Workshop may be organised to cover topics including, but not limited to: 

• Legal English; 

• Soft and technical skills (e.g. CV and motivation letter drafting, public speaking, crisis management, time management); 

• Client relations; 

• Career paths. 

Choosing a timeframe

Whilst the minimum requirement of a PD Workshop stipulates a duration of at least two hours to ensure quality standards, you still have the opportunity to be creative when it comes to more extensive workshop formats. For example, it is possible to organise individual workshops dedicated to a specific topic, but also several events on different topics taking place on the same day as well as workshop series extending over a longer period. Furthermore, PD workshops can be integrated alongside larger event cycles such as ELSA Traineeships, Fairs, or Legal Clinics. 

Finding a platform

This step is, of course, just as important as establishing a thematic framework. You can choose from different formats, including physical workshops at a physical venue, a digital workshop at a digital platform or a  hybrid workshop at a physical venue, streamed to an audience via a digital platform.

Finding a speaker

After completing the previous steps, the most important consideration when hosting a PD Workshop is identifying suitable speakers or trainers to deliver the event and to fulfil the purpose of a PD Workshop. It is therefore necessary to ensure that they possess sufficient expertise in the relevant subject area in order to deliver a high-quality workshop for your ELSA members. 

It is also always a good idea to consult partners from your ELSA group, lecturers or legal professionals, as well as other contacts, such as those from your board members and your network. A look into the PD Workshops Database can also be benficial. You may also consider the extent to which it is possible for ELSA to organise and deliver part, or even the entirety, of the event internally. The skills and competencies of your board members, your team, and yourself should not be underestimated.

Promoting the workshop

Particularly in the case of an event aimed at developing practical skills, where active participation is therefore essential for success, even the most carefully planned PD Workshop will not fulfil its purpose unless it is communicated clearly and convincingly to potential participants. 

Marketing efforts should therefore commence as soon as the details of the workshop have been confirmed and should be maintained consistently until the event takes place. It is recommended to start with promoting the event preferably around a month before the Workshop is held; however even when time is constrained, promoting the workshop closer to the event is better than no promotion at all.

Conducting the workshop

Ensure that participants and speakers are welcomed warmly in order to create an inviting environment that encourages active engagement. In this way, you can ensure that participants derive meaningful benefit from the event, that speakers or trainers have a positive experience, and that your National or Local Group strengthens its reputation for professionalism. 

During the workshop, the role of the organiser is to ensure the smooth conduct of the proceedings. This may involve preparing the venue, checking all technical aspects, introducing the speaker, explaining the structure of the session, reminding participants of any practical or organisational matters and ensuring active engagement throughout the event. 

Effective time management is essential. That means that the event should proceed according to schedule while still allowing sufficient time for questions, discussions, and practical exercises. 

At the end of the event, please do not forget to particularly thank the speakers, but also the participants, in a fitting and formal manner for their commitment and attendance.

Evaluating the workshop

Particularly with a view towards the future, evaluating the event is very beneficial to make improvements for upcoming projects, either conducted by yourself or your successors. To make this as effective as possible, the evaluation should be carried out as soon as possible after the event, as this is when the particapnts' and speakers' experiences and thoughts are still relatively fresh. More detailed feedback may also be collected by distributing feedback forms to participants either at the end of the event or after it has taken place.