LC3D138 - Advanced Legal Practice 06 Jul 2023 - 31 Aug 2025 | Version 5

Associated Module Information

Module Code: LC3D138
Module Title: Advanced Legal Practice
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Law
Faculty Sub Group: Law
Module Leader: Leane Barnes, Natalie Quartermaine
Module Team: Hannah Menard, Hayley Brain, Adam Collins, Benjamin Jones
First Intended Intake: SEP 2015 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 40 Credit Level: 6
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100692 - legal practice
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 5
Valid From 06 Jul 2023
Valid To 31 Aug 2025

Module Aims

To develop students’ problem-solving skills, so that they can identify, analyse and give accurate, relevant advice in relation to the legal, practical and commercial issues arising from clients’ instructions.

To develop a logical, methodical and efficient strategy for researching the law relevant to those issues and the ability to present that research in a clear, readable and authoritative manner.

To develop students’ ability to draft and edit formal legal documents in practice.

To develop the ability to use different forms of written communication and utilise the principles of good writing to identify the objectives for writing and facilitate communication with diverse audiences.

To develop the skills required for effective interviewing and advising and the ability to use these in practice.

To develop awareness of the principles of professional conduct and professional ethics.

Content Summary

The module will be based in the University of South Wales’s Legal and Financial Advice Clinic (“the Clinic”) and will require students to engage in the work of the Clinic.

The module will build on the students’ experience in the Introduction to Legal Practice module and enable them to further develop the skills required for successful completion of the LPC outcomes by enabling them to experience working within a real legal services environment, where they can apply their academic studies to a real life, professional environment providing pro-bono legal advice to members of the public on a range of legal issues.

The rules of professional conduct and ethics will be a key aspect of students’ work in the Clinic.

Students will attend 1 day a week at the clinic for 24 weeks providing legal advice (under professional supervision) to members of the public and other organisations.

Prior to commencing their placement, students will engage in an induction refresher covering topics such as data protection, confidentiality, file management, an introduction to AdvicePro (the Clinic’s Case Management System) and AdviserNet, an online advice portal. The induction is compulsory and must be completed before the Clinic placement commences.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Seminar 48
Independent Study 80
Placement 120
Directed Study 100
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 4
Formative Assessment - Independent 48
Total Hours Selected 400

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 <span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">To understand the need for thorough investigation of all relevant factual and legal issues involved in a transaction or matter.</span>
LO2 To be able to undertake systematic and comprehensive legal research.
LO3 To be able to present the results of their research.
LO4 To understand the content and requirements of formal legal documents in the core practice areas.
LO5 To understand the principles of good drafting and editing.
LO6 To be able to explain their own drafting and that of third parties.
LO7 To understand the different forms of written communication and be able to select the most appropriate form of written communication to suit the circumstances and the requirements of the recipient.
LO8 To be able to apply the principles of good writing in their written communications.
LO9 To be able to identify clearly the objectives of the written communication and where relevant, be able to produce written communications that advance the matter.
LO10 To demonstrate an understanding of the principles and techniques of the skills of interviewing and advising and be able to carry out an effective interview.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Assessment (Exam) Onsite Open Book Examination 3 Onsite Open Book Examination 3 (PCR) 120 N/A 20 No 50
Synchronous Onsite Assessment (Exam) Onsite Open Book Examination 2 Onsite Specialist Software Computer Based Examination 120 N/A 20 No 50
Synchronous Onsite Assessment (Exam) Onsite Open Book Examination 1 Onsite Specialist Software Computer Based Examination 240 N/A 20 No 50
Oral Assessment (CW) Oral Assessment (CW) Students will be provided with a research note based on the information as the PLR assessment. Students will engage in a 20 minute role play interview of a new client on the basis of the information in the PLR assessment. 20 N/A 20 No 50
Practical Assessment (CW) Clinical Practice (CW) 1 On the basis of a clinic interview, students will produce written work addressing all relevant issues. 0 3000 20 No 50

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Onsite Open Book Examination 3
Onsite Open Book Examination 2
Onsite Open Book Examination 1
Oral Assessment (CW)
Clinical Practice (CW) 1

Reading List

Latest Editions of:

Solicitors Code of Conduct 2011

Legal Foundations

Legal Skills

Harrison C

Wilson, S and Kenny, P

Herman, G

Kerrigan, K and Murray, V

SRA

CLP

CLP

From Student to Solicitor: a complete guide to securing a training contract, Sweet and Maxwell

The Law Student’s handbook, OUP

A Practical Approach to Client Interviewing, Counselling and Decision – Making: For Clinical Programs and Practical Skills Courses, LexisNexis

A Student Guide to Clinical Legal Education and Pro-bono Advice, Palgrave