Management and Leadership Programme

This course has been funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, Access to Justice Foundation and AB Charitable Trust and it is delivered in partnership with the Legal Aid Practitioners Group.

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What is the MLP and who is it for?

Applications for the 2026 Programme have closed.

The Management & Leadership Programme (MLP) is a unique, sector-specific learning journey for managers and emerging leaders working in law centres, CABx, and other advice charities. It’s designed to help the people who hold the sector together - those managing teams, projects and organisations - to develop the skills, confidence and perspective they need to lead with purpose. This isn’t corporate management training. It’s practical, relevant, and rooted in the realities of social justice work, designed and delivered by people who understand the pressures, the passion, and the complexity of leading in values-driven organisations. We offer 24 places on each Programme, and it has been designed for managers from not for profit advice organisations, such as Law Centres, CABx, advice charities, and community-based organisations developing advice services across the UK. The Programme is open to middle managers leading teams, projects or departments and to senior leaders - including CEOs and Heads of Service, looking to deepen their strategic leadership practice.

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Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme, participants will:

Gain clarity an confidence in their management role.
Lead people effectively, with emotional intelligence and pragmatic honesty.
Recognise and prioritise the value of time for management and creating purpose within their team.
Explore ways to strengthen organisational culture, resilience and communication.
Contribute strategically to planning, risk, finance and partnership work.
Develop strategies to lead and manage in organisation navigating complexity, change and challenge.
Feel connected to a wider community of managers shaping the future of the sector.

Programme Curriculum

1. How To Use Thinkifc
2. The Management & Leadership Programme
3. How to Book a Tutorial with Your Tutor
4. Competency Self Assessment
5. Participant Biographies and Emails
1. Zoom Link for Sessions
1. 28th Jan - Live Session 1 - Introduction and Focus on Deep Dives
1. 4th Feb - Live Session 2 - Resources Deep Dive
1. Introduction
2. Learning Outcomes
3. Looking After Yourself
1. Introduction
2. Learning Outcomes
3. What are Management and Leadership?
1. Introduction
2. Learning Outcomes
3. Understanding the Complexity of Management
1. Introduction
2. Learning Outcomes
3. Critical Thinking
1. Introduction
2. Learning Outcomes
3. Emotional Intelligence
1. Introduction
2. Learning Outcomes
3. A Familiar Scenario
4. About the Time Management Course
5. Why Time Management Matters in Advice Services
6. Time Management, Self-Care and Sustainability
7. Effective Time Management - The Core Essentials (Part 1)
8. Effective Time Management - The Core Essentials (Part 2)
9. Practical Strategies - The Basics
10. Tips to Make Time Management Easier
1. Introduction
2. Learning Outcomes
3. What Do We Mean by “Governance”?
4. The Role of Trustees (and Why It Matters)
5. The Limits of the Trustee Role
6. How Management and Trustees Should Work Together
7. Governance vs Day-to-Day Management (Why the Distinction Matters)
8. Reflection: Governance in Practice
9. Further Learning: Governance in Practice
10. Some Downloadable Materials
1. Introduction
2. Learning Outcomes
3. What Do We Mean by “Data” and “Learning”?
4. Why Data and Learning Matter in Advice and Legal Work
5. The Manager’s Role in Capturing and Using Data
6. Organisational Learning vs Personal Learning
7. Common Barriers to Learning (and Why They Persist)
8. Reflection: Data and Learning in Practice
9. Further Learning: Data, Insight, and Learning Culture
10. Some Downloadable Materials
1. 11th Feb - Live Session 3 - Supervision and Targets Deep Dive
1. 4th March - Live Session 4 - Motivating, Learning & Development
1. 16th March - Live Session 5 - EDI with Phanuel Mutumburi
1. 22nd April - Live Session 7 - Strategic Thinking and Planning
1. Manchester 11th May - In-Person Live Session 8 - Strategic and Operational Challenges & Change Management
1. Bristol 18th May - In-Person Live Session 8 -Strategic and Operational Challenges & Change Management
1. 17th June - Live Session 9 - Partnership and Collaboration
1. 1st July - Live Session 10 - Campaigning and Impact & Digital and AI
1. MLP 2026 Alumni Symposium In-Person

About This Programme

46 Topics
10 Live Sessions
2 In-Person Sessions