LAW6082 - Law Clinic

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1 - Recognise and select the key relevant issues, and to formulate them with clarity
2 - Apply acquired knowledge and understanding to problems and substantive legal issues, making personal and reasoned judgements based on an informed understanding of standard arguments in the area of law in question
3 - Identify and retrieve accurate, current and relevant information from a range of appropriate sources, including primary legal sources and standard paper and electronic sources
4 - Communicate knowledge and arguments in oral and written form appropriate for the purpose and audience, using proficient English and correct legal terminology
5 - Demonstrate awareness of fundamental aspects of professional ethics.

Content:

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 relavant to legal practice, in particular 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).

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, group work and tutorials.

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.

Teaching will include rehearsing this method in order to 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.

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

Workshops
Hours: 40
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Guided independent study
Hours: 160

Further details relating to assessment

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 assessment is designed to test students’ acquired knowledge and understanding of relevant issues and to formulate them with clarity in a professional legal advice context, in a oral format.

The portfolio assessment allows students to demonstrate their ability to carry out practical legal research, consider ethical issues, provide written advice and apply their legal knowledge and requires them to reflect on their role as legal advisors in the Law Clinic.

Formative assessment will be integrated into sessions. For example in 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 submission of their final assessment.

Full details of the module are contained within the Module Handbook.

Assessment:

001 Practical assessment; 15 minutes; end of semester 1 50%
002 Portfolio; up to 35 pages including evidence; end of semester 2 50%

Fact File

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

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