Studying at York
Legal Services: Business & Strategy - LAW00088M
- Department: The York Law School
- Module co-ordinator: Prof. Scott Slorach
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
- See module specification for other years: 2023-24
Module summary
Students will analyse:
(a) the market for and regulation of legal services
(b) the business of providing legal services and models for doing so
(c) entities which provide legal services
(d) the strategies adopted by those entities
The main focus of the module is developing understanding of the regulatory and market frameworks for the provision of legal services, and how legal businesses are developed and operate.
This will be explored through a fictional legal business. Students will act as consultants to the business, analysing its past and current operations, financials, organisation, markets, clients, and the broader environment, to develop a strategic proposal and business plan.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 2 2024-25 |
Module aims
The module aims, as part of the overall LLM programme, to enable students to develop a systematic understanding and critical awareness of the business and strategy of legal services.
This will be developed through a critical analysis of:
(a) the market for and regulation of legal services
(b) the business of providing legal services and models for doing so
(c) entities which provide legal services
(d) the strategies adopted by those entities
and a specific, detailed analysis, employing business analysis tools, of the business and strategy of a hypothetical legal services provider.
Module learning outcomes
- Critically analyse the regulation of legal services provision in England and Wales
- Apply established techniques of research and enquiry to develop a practical and systematic understanding of the business of legal services provision, and the wider contexts in which services are provided
- Explain, apply, discuss and critically evaluate well-established business analysis concepts, principles, theories and perspectives in the analysis of a legal services business, its clients and markets, and the wider contexts in which services are provided
- Apply problem-solving strategies to develop and propose strategic solutions to a legal services business
- Devise and evaluate an evidence-based strategic proposal, supported by a structured business plan, for the development of a legal services business
- Communicate an analysis, business plan and stategy for the provision of legal services in a structured, clear and concise format
Module content
The market for and regulation of legal services
The business of providing legal services and models for doing so
Entities which provide legal services
The strategies adopted by those entities
Financial issues and analysis
Organisational structures
Analysing a legal business and its environment
Strategic options & business planning
Assessment
| Task | Length | % of module mark |
|---|---|---|
| Essay/coursework Analysis, Strategy & Business Plan |
N/A | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Additional assessment information
The Analysis, Strategy & Business Plan is subject to two limits:
(i) A word limit of a maximum of 5,000; and
(ii) A page limit of 15 ‘Sides’ of A4 paper.
Reassessment
| Task | Length | % of module mark |
|---|---|---|
| Essay/coursework Analysis, Strategy & Business Plan |
N/A | 100 |
Module feedback
Students will receive ongoing feedback from tutors and peers on their developing understanding, use of models and other techniques, as well as other skills, during seminars (including presentations).
Feedback on initial Business Plan proposals will be provided towards the end of the teaching period.
Written feedback will be provided on assessment submissions.
Indicative reading
C. Stoakes, All You Need to Know About Commercial Awareness (ΧΦΣ, 2019)
S. Mayson, Making Sense of Law Firms: Strategy, Structure & Ownership (Blackstone Press 1997)
S. Mayson, Law Firm Strategy: Competitive Advantage and Valuation (OUP 2007)
Richard Susskind, Tomorrow s Lawyers: An Introduction to Your Future (OUP, 2017).