The course will take place 5-8 August in Sydney, supported by The College of Law.
MELBOURNE (21 May 2019) — The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), a global legal association representing more than 45,000 members in 85 countries, has announced that it will introduce the ACC In-house Counsel Certification Program in Australia. The course will take place 5-8 August in Sydney, supported by The College of Law.
The intensive certification programme is designed to help in-house lawyers master the skills that are critical to an in-house legal career. The programme is run by the ACC Credentialing Institute and is the first of its kind for any legal association, with a curriculum designed by leading international general counsel, including John Downes (Head of Legal – Australasia, Willis Towers Watson) and Andrew Finch (General Counsel & Group Executive, Office of the CEO, Qantas Airways).
The programme creates a standard of best practices for in-house lawyers working worldwide. To date, approximately 100 in-house counsel have graduated from three past Dubai-based classes of the ACC In-house Counsel Certification Program, including in-house lawyers from 52 companies and more than 20 countries.
Neville Carter, Group Chief Executive Officer of the College of Law, said that the College was pleased to support ACC’s new Certification Programme.
“ACC has a global reputation for excellence in the development of educational programmes for in-house counsel at all stages of their careers. ACC has brought together some of the most highly regarded general counsel in Australia in the development of these new programmes. We are delighted to support the introduction of the Certification Program into Australia as they will provide in-counsel with the skills and knowledge needed to lead departmental and organisational change.”
Although this will be the first iteration of the programme in Australia, the format is identical no matter the location it is presented, designed to be a universal, international certification for in-house counsel. ACC has additional programs planned later this year in Amsterdam and the greater New York City area.
“We’ve long wished to host a certification program in Australia,” said Karen Grumley, ACC Australia National President and Head of Legal – Coal at Pacific National. “The certification programme in Sydney will give Australasian lawyers the opportunity to position themselves — and members of their team — as indispensable to the corporate client and raise the stature of their in-house legal teams overall.”
August’s class, which is limited to 50 participants, will include substantive programming, group presentations, and team projects. Participants are instructed across three core areas: stakeholder relationships, law department management, and legal services. After four days of live instruction, the program concludes with a final assessment.
“We look forward to replicating the success of our Certification Programme with our first class in Australia this August,” said James Merklinger, President, ACC Credentialing Institute. “Not only do delegates benefit from a program focused on professional excellence and translating legal knowledge into business solutions, but they also learn useful global best practices from each other – generating new peer connections.”
Once graduates pass the final examination and receive their ICC designation, it is valid for one year. After the first year, an ongoing commitment to learning – 14 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) – is required annually to maintain ICC status.
For more information on the ACC Credentialing Institute, visit www.acc.com/certification or contact certification@acc.com.
About ACC: The Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) is a global legal association that promotes the common professional and business interests of in-house counsel who work for corporations, associations and other organisations through information, education, networking, and advocacy. With more than 45,000 members in 85 countries employed by over 10,000 organisations, ACC connects its members to the people and resources necessary for both personal and professional growth. By in-house counsel, for in-house counsel.® For more information, visit www.acc.com and follow ACC on Twitter: @ACCinhouse.