Law School Module Details |
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module. |
Title | CLINICAL LEGAL SKILLS - A Law Clinic Module | ||
Code | LAW322 | ||
Coordinator |
Ms LB Yeatman Law Lucy.Yeatman@liverpool.ac.uk |
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Year | CATS Level | Semester | CATS Value |
Session 2024-25 | Level 6 FHEQ | Second Semester | 15 |
Aims |
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1. To provide students with the opportunity to study an area of law and justice in depth through experiential and enquiry based learning by assisting a practicing lawyer to provide legal services to members of the public who cannot afford to pay for legal advice and who do not qualify for legal aid. 2. To provide students with the opportunity to engage with their own personal, professional and academic development through reflection, collaborative working, research and self-directed learning. |
Learning Outcomes |
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(LO1) At the end of this module students will be able to have demonstrated an ability to research the law and procedure in order to provide advice or other legal assistance to their client. |
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(LO2) At the end of this module students will be able to have demonstrated an ability to write a letter of advice to a client or to write another legal document to advance their case, such as a letter of representation to the Home Office based on research undertaken. |
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(LO3) At the end of this module students will be able to demonstrated an ability to reflect critically on how you have developed your understanding of law, procedure and policy through your casework and experiential learning. |
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(LO4) At the end of this module students will be able to demonstrated an ability to reflect on your personal, academic and professional development. |
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(LO5) At the end of this module students will be able to demonstrated your ability to maintain case files in accordance with the Law Clinic Office Manual and SRA Handbook and Code of Conduct. |
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(S1) Research management developing a research strategy, project planning and delivery, risk management, formulating questions, selecting literature, using primary/secondary/diverse sources, collecting & using data, applying research methods, applying ethics |
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(S2) Literacy application of literacy, ability to produce clear, structured written work and oral literacy - including listening and questioning |
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(S3) Problem solving/ critical thinking/ creativity analysing facts and situations and applying creative thinking to develop appropriate solutions. |
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(S4) Team (group) working respecting others, co-operating, negotiating / persuading, awareness of interdependence with others |
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(S5) Self-management readiness to accept responsibility (i.e. leadership), flexibility, resilience, self-starting, initiative, integrity, willingness to take risks, appropriate assertiveness, time management, readiness to improve own performance based on feedback/reflective learning |
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(S6) Communication, listening and questioning respecting others, contributing to discussions, communicating in a foreign language, influencing, presentations |
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(S7) Information literacy online, finding, interpreting, evaluating, managing and sharing information |
Syllabus |
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Legal content of the course will vary according to client problem and advice needs. Currently student law firms either work on immigration, education or family law cases, but this may vary depending on client needs and supervisor expertise. Topics covered in workshops will include, professional ethics and conduct, funding legal cases, access to justice, practical legal research, reflective writing, interviewing skills, legal drafting, case file management, case analysis. Students will be expected to do preparation work for workshops and will be given clear guidance on CANVAS of what reading they are expected to do. Student will also be expected to research legal problems, prepare for interviews, attend client interviews, draft letters and other documents, manage files in accordance with Law Clinic Guidelines and to conduct independent research on access to justice relevant to the casework done in the Law Clinic. |
Teaching and Learning Strategies |
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Clinical Legal Skills is a final year optional module based in the Liverpool Law Clinic. Learning on the module is experiential: Students work in small groups or “firms” of 6 students and there is an emphasis on collaborative learning and problem solving throughout the module. Student learning takes place through working in the Liverpool Law Clinic with student firms assisting practicing lawyers to provide legal services to members of the general public. Casework includes working to strict deadlines. The Law Clinic operates during office hours 8 am to 5.30pm and for reasons of client confidentiality, students are only permitted to work on their client case in the Law Clinic. Remote working on case files is prohibited. There are practical workshops which will cover skills. Students will discuss the cases that they are working on, so that they whole group can learn from the legal and professional issues encountered and the legal advice provided. Workshops wil l cover areas including researching legal problems, letter drafting, client interviewing, access to justice, reflective practice and law and procedure relevant to client cases. In addition to fortnightly workshops each firm has a weekly 1.5 hour case supervision meeting to receive feedback on practical case work Teaching Method 1 - Lecture Teaching Method 2 - Small Group Learning Teaching Method 3 - Case Based Learning |
Teaching Schedule |
Lectures | Seminars | Tutorials | Lab Practicals | Fieldwork Placement | Other | TOTAL | |
Study Hours |
2 |
20 15 10 88 5 |
140 | ||||
Timetable (if known) | |||||||
Private Study | 10 | ||||||
TOTAL HOURS | 150 |
Assessment |
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EXAM | Duration | Timing (Semester) |
% of final mark |
Resit/resubmission opportunity |
Penalty for late submission |
Notes |
CONTINUOUS | Duration | Timing (Semester) |
% of final mark |
Resit/resubmission opportunity |
Penalty for late submission |
Notes |
Portfolio The portfolio will include written advice to a client supported by research records and a piece of reflection on development of skills and knowledge on the module. There is a resit opportu | 0 | 90 | ||||
File management This is a group assessment on the way in which a client case file has been organised and all Law Clinic procedures followed. This is not an anonymous assessment. It is submitted | 0 | 10 |
Recommended Texts |
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Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module. |
Other Staff Teaching on this Module |
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Mrs D Tyfield | Law | Deborah.Tyfield@liverpool.ac.uk |
Ms JC Carter | Law | Judith.Carter@liverpool.ac.uk |
Ms HJ Birt | Law | Helenor.Birt@liverpool.ac.uk |
Mr JA Betts | Law | James.Betts@liverpool.ac.uk |
Ms SL Gupta | Law | Sumita.Gupta@liverpool.ac.uk |
Modules for which this module is a pre-requisite: |
Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements): |
Co-requisite modules: |
Programme(s) (including Year of Study) to which this module is available on a required basis: |
Programme(s) (including Year of Study) to which this module is available on an optional basis: |
Additional Programme Information |