Emotional intelligence (EI) for lawyers 2026

By the end of the course, participants will demonstrate and be equipped with an understanding of the integration between human behaviour, interpersonal relationships, and our wellness, to enhance their overall problem-solving and decision-making skills in the legal profession. 

The course aims at teaching to keep the human in the loop, so that our connection remains tangible in a time of rapid technological advancement and AI, also assisting us to continue being endlessly creative, curious, and imaginative. 

Participants will develop evidence-based micro-skills in emotional regulation, trauma informed interviewing, cross cultural communication, principled negotiation and ethical decision making. These competencies are increasingly emphasised in legal education standards on professional identity formation, and complement the practical vocational training focus areas of ethics, alternative dispute resolution, and practice management.

Join us for a three-hour course, held over two days.

When and where?

24 to 25 August 2026, 15:00 to 16:30 SAST

This course will be held remotely, most likely on Zoom.

Course outline

Topics to be covered include:

• Social wellness, ethics and professional identity (EI for judgement/civility)
• Dealing with diversity and sensitivity, for cultural humility and cross cultural communication
• Empathy - the ability to understand and connect emotionally with others, by being trauma informed and understanding collective trauma (i.e. intergenerational, cultural, social and institutional trauma, trauma informed client interviewing and witness work)
• The skill to navigate relationships that inspire trust and collaboration for teaming and authentic leadership, awareness, and integrity for legal practice
• Mindfulness, reflection and consciousness for emotional stress regulation, and practical tools for communication and cortisol management
• Human in the loop advocacy in a tech rich practice

Who will benefit from this course?

This course is designed for anyone and everyone as part of their professional and personal responsibilities, including LLB students, candidate attorneys, and practicing lawyers, particularly those in family, criminal, refugee/immigration, labour, personal injury law, legal aid, public interest lawyers and prosecutors in high emotion practice areas, as well as mediators, litigators and negotiators, in house counsel and compliance professionals. 

Law firm leaders, team leads and supervisors, HR personnel, and union representatives, judicial clerks and court facing staff as well as legal tech experts who must balance human factors with data/AI tools would also benefit greatly from attending this course.

Presenter

Valerie Bam is an admitted attorney of the High Court of South Africa and a Senior Legal Advisor with over ten years’ post admission experience across personal injury litigation, investment management, global markets, and financial services advisory. She is a double graduate, holding BCom Law and LLB degrees, and brings a strong foundation in commercial, ethical, and people centred legal practice into high stakes environments. She is also an ASCHP designated Wellness Counsellor, with board examinations in advanced wellness theory completed in 2024. 

How much?

R1,650 per person.

Certificate

A digital certificate of attendance from UCT will be issued to those who attend the full course.

Please note that the digital certificate can only be viewed on a secure portal. It cannot be downloaded or printed. You will have the option of ordering a hard copy of the certificate at your own cost, including the cost of the courier fee. More information is available here.

SIGN UP HERE: Emotional intelligence (EI) for lawyers | UCT Law at Work