LAW6083 - Legal Clinic

Objectives:

Assessment tasks are designed to enable students to demonstrate the Learning and Employability outcomes for the relevant level of study. Level Learning Outcomes are embedded in the assessment task(s) at that level. This enables a more integrated view of overall student performance at each level.

Content:

This module enables students to retain an element of work-based learning in their final year programme, by spending time working with LTU Legal Advice Clinic during the year.

This module provides students with knowledge, skills and experience in connection with providing legal advice – both oral and written – as well as developing critical and research skills relevant to legal practice, providing legal advice in a legal clinic setting.

The module will introduce themes and concepts and will develop skills and knowledge relating to: the rationale for legal clinic and pro bono work; legal, ethical and regulatory obligations; confidentiality and disclosure duties; legal practice communication skills and conflicts of interest. In doing so the content will mirror the need for those working in legal advice clinics to be trained to an appropriate level of competence for their work and the need to keep their understanding of legal, ethical and regulatory obligations up to date (required when working with solicitors).

The module will provide an introduction, overview and instruction on relevant themes and concepts and develop skills and knowledge relating to legal clinic pro bono work.

The module will provide an introduction and overview of the basic format for reviewing, analysing, evaluating and providing legal advice (including both written and oral) on specific cases studies having specific regard to the legal skills and knowledge to be developed, understood and applied in a legal clinic setting before practicing the real thing in live a real live clinic setting.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The main teaching method will identify, clarify and support the specific learning techniques and skills needed for advising in a legal clinic.

The case studies in this module will be researched, prepared and written as well as performed in a ‘live’ context to take account of the broad skill set to be developed and learning outcomes.

Advice will be given on analysis, evaluation and the articulation of knowledge, as well as on the importance of identifying how to relate various case content to the most appropriate legal process or rule, using key indicators or features to help with classification, and key terminology.

The SRA’s guidance will also be used to inform aspects of the teaching to reflect the need for advisors to be trained to an appropriate level of competence for work in a legal advice clinic.

Workshops will serve multiple purposes. They introduce students to new legal topics, deepen their understanding of complex concepts, and enhance their practical skills relevant to the legal profession. Workshops will involve a combination of presentations, discussions, case studies, simulations, and group activities to create an engaging and immersive learning environment.

The skills studied will be applied in different contexts providing students with the opportunity for progressive development.

Workshops
Hours: 60
Intended group size: 40

Guided independent study
Hours: 240

Further details relating to assessment
Portfolio: Student will be provided with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills development during their clinical legal education module by reflecting on their cases (whether real or simulated) and using evidence such as letters, interview notes and other documents and writing a reflective report on their experience

Practical Assessment: Students are to take part in a fictional legal advice scenario set in a client-lawyer legal advice meeting context (the student playing part of the lawyer and an external professional playing the part of a client). The students will provide oral legal advice based on the scenario and information obtained from the client meeting. The students are to be assessed on the legal advice meeting to test students acquired knowledge and understanding of relevant issues and to formulate them with clarity in a professional legal advice context, in an oral format,.

Formative assessment will be integrated into sessions. For example, in seminars/workshops, student groups provide structured input/feedback on each other’s work, set in the context of tutor and peer input. Students can then use this feedback and the critiques to inform their submission of final assessment.

Assessment:

Fact File

Module Coordinator - PRS_CODE=
Level - 6
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered -

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