LAW6012 - Professional Learning Through Work

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate that they have worked effectively and professionally with others in completing a placement with a specific employer.
Demonstrate that they have, through consultation and negotiation with both the employer and the University, identified a professional issue relating to the work of the employer and designed and completed a specific project, as part of their placement, involving investigation and reflection on this issue.
Demonstrate the ability to analyse critically, synthesise and evaluate data/information and research arising from the project and placement, constructing an informed argument and presenting their findings appropriately.

Content:

This module enables students to retain an element of work-based learning in their final year programme, by spending time working with an employer during the year, focussing on completing a specific project for that employer and reflecting on what they have learned from this experience.

Students will be expected to negotiate a project with their employer or prior placement provider organisation that meets the needs of both the employer and Leeds Trinity University.

The specific requirement for this module is that the work undertaken be in the field of law, legal practice or allied area. The work undertaken should help students to explore career pathways open to them in law (such as, internships and employment in the legal sector), so that they can make informed and purposeful decisions about their future.

Core taught content will be delivered which covers approaches to work-based projects (including approaches to scoping out and agreeing projects), managing time on projects, skills audits, guidance and advice on negotiating project outcomes and negotiating and agreeing their approach to assessment, along with subject contextualisation and reflective practice.

This taught content (minimum of 4 weeks) will be delivered at the start of Semester 1 along with support for students negotiating / finalising projects.

Support in Semester 2 will include both group sessions (minimum of 3) to support assessment approaches plus individual supervision tutorials

Learning and Teaching Information:

Student learning will be supported through workshops which use and include a blended approach in providing formal lectures and delivery, seminars and group sessions. This will be in additional to individual tutorials.

There will be a mixture of approaches to sourcing projects. Some will be sourced by the placement team but students should also be encouraged to: use their Level 5 placement experience and contacts to consider opportunities to source projects and carry out their own industry research, making contact with a range of organisations (where a skills-development pathway is chosen, students have to outline the independent learn, agree a form of verification with their tutor and an output to show application of the learning).

As a negotiated, self-managed module, students will receive initial guidance on how the module works, the learning objectives and their responsibilities, but they will be responsible for setting up an appropriate placement with an employer and formulating and agreeing a project which they will complete during the year.

Leeds Trinity University has existing links (for example) with various Law companies and legal services providers. The Placement and Partnership Office can provide support in identifying the most suitable placement opportunities.

This process will be monitored by staff and a placement supervisor will be assigned to each student to provide tutorial support throughout the year and ensure progress and academic rigour in assessed work. Further guidance and support will be given, in Semester 2, to help with the completion of the assessment.

The earliest students would begin their workplace hours would be October and, in order to complete module assessment in line with the university calendar, they would normally be expected to complete the hours by the end of March.

Workshops
Hours: 14br> Intended Group Size: 20

Tutorials and tutor contact via email etc
Hours: 3

Guided independent study
Hours: 183

Further details relating to assessment
The Law programme requires students to undertake work in the field of law.

Registration for the module is subject to students providing clear evidence during Level 5 study of active engagement, completion and evaluation of the PDP module and initial negotiations with their employer/placement provider with regard to a potential work-based learning project for Level 6.

In relation to the work-placement, a tripartite sign-off form will be required. This form will include the details of the project outline by the student, will be verified by the employer and will be signed off by the study supervisor. This should also include an agreed pattern of working hours.

The employer will also be asked to submit 3 appraisal forms (end Sem 1, mid-Feb Sem 2 and end Sem 2) – the first report would be initial approval and signed agreement for the project to proceed, the second report would be required by January at the latest providing an interim report of progress and the final report would be required at the assessment submission date providing evaluation of the project outcome. These reports would assist and inform the project supervisor of work-based value.

A minimum of at least 60 hours must be spent in the workplace with an additional 130 hours (minimum) independent study time within or outside the workplace.

Where the skills pathway is chosen, students are expected to complete and evidence the training and associated outputs).

Assessment:

001 Report; 500 words; end of semester 1 20%
002 Professional placement project; 60 hours minimum; during semester 1 and 2 %
003 Final project and reflections; 3,500 words; end of semester 2 80%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Simon Best
Level - 6
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 6YL

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