LAW2265 : Advanced Legal Skills
- Offered for Year: 2025/26
- Module Leader(s): Mrs Chris Fletcher
- Owning School: Newcastle Law School
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
- Capacity limit: 100 student places
Semesters
Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
| European Credit Transfer System | |
Aims
This module will build on some of the legal and academic skills that students developed during stage 1 and introduce some more advanced practical legal skills.
The module will allow students to identify areas for personal and individual development and reflect on their learning through the use of an independent development plan and reflective log and work both independently and collaboratively through participating in the various learning activities and exercises.
The exercises will require students to problem solve, apply legal knowledge, concepts and principles to complete tasks and exercises.
The skills developed whilst explored in a legal context will be transferable to other disciplines.
Outline Of Syllabus
The syllabus will be organised around the following key themes:
Developing legal research skills and presenting that research in different formats, recognising that different approaches are needed for different situations.
Developing oral and written communication skills and learning to adapt delivery to reflect different situations and audiences.
Understanding how to develop, structure and deliver a legal argument both in writing and orally and applying those skills.
Analysing complex and disputable facts and developing the ability distinguish the key issues, summarise them and use them to structure an argument.
Understanding the principles of negotiation and applying those skills in a live negotiation exercise.
Understanding how to formulate appropriate questions and applying that skill and knowledge in a live interview in a legal context including a knowledge and awareness of issues of professional conduct.
Reflecting on your own skillset and producing a reflective log and independent development plan as a tool to aid development and set achievable short term and long-term goals.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 5 | 1:00 | 5:00 | Students will provide feedback to each other on specific exercises |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 8 | 1:00 | 8:00 | In-person |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 70:00 | 70:00 | Assessment preparation and completion |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured non-synchronous discussion | 6 | 1:00 | 6:00 | A combination of short recordings and lecture material and text designed to support SLTA |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Workshops | 6 | 2:00 | 12:00 | In-person |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 3 | 1:00 | 3:00 | Feedback on students’ work and activities; specific time for consultation on module specific issues |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 94:00 | 94:00 | Required reading for lectures/seminars; prep for seminar discussion; revision of course content. |
| Guided Independent Study | Online Discussion | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Moderated discussion board |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The teaching methods have been designed to reflect the requirements of this practical and interactive legal skills module. Teaching will be delivered through a range of in person and online activities as well as a range of guided student activities. There will be an emphasis on reflective learning and practice and the module is designed to promote critical analysis and self-awareness together with the ability for students to plan their own development and learning journeys to match their personal interests and skillset.
The lectures will be used to introduce some including basic principles of Interviewing, Negotiation, Advocacy/Mooting, Professional Conduct, Research Methods, Writing Techniques and self-reflection and reflective learning and goal setting
The cohort will be split into groups of 25 for the 2 hour in person workshops where they will participate in various skills-based activities. The size will allow academic staff to facilitate the activities and to support and appraise performances of the students in the activities and supplement the peer-peer feedback and self-reflection in respect of each activity.
The in-person activities will be supplemented with online recorded materials and the discussion board.
The drop-in sessions will be used to help students prepare for their assessments.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reflective log | 2 | A | 100 | 2000 words |
Zero Weighted Pass/Fail Assessments
| Description | When Set | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | M | Individual development plan. Compulsory element Pass/Fail 500 word (not strict) |
| Portfolio | A | Skills Portfolio. Compulsory element Pass/Fail |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Summative assessment is provided by means of:
1) Individual Development Plan – Students will be required to prepare an IDP setting out why they have chosen the module and what they hope to get out of it and set some goals in relation to the particular skills that they will explore and develop in the module.
2) Skills Portfolio – students must submit evidence of completion of a selection of the module’s activities.
3) Reflective Log – students will be asked to produce a reflective log in respect of the skills that they have explored and developed including a reflection on the goals they set as a part of the IDP.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- LAW2265's Timetable