Access to Justice 2
| Module title | Access to Justice 2 |
|---|---|
| Module code | LAW3105C |
| Academic year | 2019/0 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 25 |
|---|
Module description
With the decrease in Legal Aid, we have seen an increase in Litigants in Person and vulnerable people without any legal representation. In addition, Cornwall has been identified as a ‘Legal Advice Desert’. The Law School is working closely with the Dracaena Centre in Falmouth and the Legal Advice Centre in London to develop real opportunities for members of the public to access support and expert legal advice in the County. Many individuals faced with navigating the legal system alone feel intimidated and confused, and often give up, thus losing their opportunity to access justice. This module is delivered in conjunction with the Dracaena Centre in Falmouth who provide a pro bono public service to the community. This innovative project matches expert advice from practicing lawyers in London with the client’s needs. Advice is then provided via skype. You will work with solicitors from the Legal Advice Centre, in London and a network of lawyers from across Cornwall. You will be part of meetings between practicing lawyers and your client. You will also help to run a weekly legal help desk at Truro Combined Court. You will in addition start to learn and practice basic legal skills, for example mediation, and apply basic legal knowledge in other settings.
This module does not require any prior legal knowledge and is suitable for students from any discipline. You may, however, be subject to a selection process for this module to determine where your skills may be the most helpful.
You will be required to adhere to Exeter Law School’s Code of Professional Conduct.?
Please note: This module syllabus (Access to Justice 1 LAW 3167C) is exclusively available to students on the Cornwall Campuses and differs materially from the Access to Justice syllabus of the Streatham Campus (LAW3167).
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module will provide you with first-hand experience working with the public. After initial training and observing, you will have the opportunity to provide support to individuals that attend the drop-in clinics or help-desk. You will also facilitate the provision of expert legal advice where required. You will develop important transferable skills in interviewing technique and developing rapport with clients, whilst also shadowing any one of a network of lawyers who offer their time free of charge to support members of the public gain access to justice.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. identify relevant legal problems from a clients account and to signpost a client to next stages of the process, with guidance
- 2. communicate legal information effectively to clients orally and in writing, in a manner appropriate to the setting and to the particular client
- 3. demonstrate basic legal practice skills in a clinical or academic setting
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. keep detailed and up to date client records as directed
- 5. apply legal knowledge to a real case and to suggest legal reform supported by relevant arguments
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 6. interact effectively, professionally and ethically within a professional environment.
- 7. plan and undertake tasks, with guidance from legal professionals, to reflect critically on the learning process and make use of feedback
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the module will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Listening to clients
- Interviewing
- Note taking
- Issue Spotting
- Asking Difficult Questions
- Dealing with clients who are distressed or angry
- Confidentiality
- Signposting
- Helping with forms
- Basic debt counselling
- Basic housing and welfare law
- Basic mediation skills
- Working as part of a legal team
- Learning from professionals
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 51 | 99 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 30 | Attendance at Dracaena Centre Law Clinic, court help desk and other law clinic outreach projects. |
| Scheduled teaching and learning Activities | 21 | 7 x 3 hour tutor-led workshops |
| Independent study | 50 | Preparation of reflective skills portfolio |
| Guided independent or group study | 49 | Preparation for clinical work, including on-line skills and knowledge training |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual tutor meeting on draft skills portfolio | 20 minutes | 1-7 | Oral and written Feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reflective skills portfolio including skills self-assessment, reflections on an anonymised case, proposals to a specific procedure or law and attendance record | 100 | 4,500 | 1-7 | Written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reflective skills portfolio | Reflective skills portfolio (4,500 words) | 1-7 | 1st September |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Ross Hyams, Susan Campbell & Adrian Evans(2014) Practical Legal Skills : Developing Your clinical technique (Oxford University Press)
Several copies of Emily Finch & Stefan Fafinski (2014) Employability Skills for Law Students (Oxford University Press) and Paula Baron and Lillian Corbin (2016) Legal Writing : Academic and Professional Communication and other more specific books which will be referred to for different stages of the module. Multiple copies of these are available in the Penryn Campus Library.
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/11/2018 |
| Last revision date | 27/11/2018 |
