LW1LS-Legal Skills

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: restricted to LLB students
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Ms Sharon Sinclair-Graham
Email: sharon.sinclair-graham@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
An introduction to Legal Study Skills.

Aims:

To introduce students to teaching methods and expectations applicable to higher legal education and legal study skills they will need to study law as an academic discipline. To provide students with opportunities to develop and practice key skills, including transferable skills. The majority of the module will be taught as a 3-week intensive course at the beginning of the Autumn Term with an additional sessions in Week 7 for the Group Presentation and Library Skills to be taught in a further tutorial outside of the initial three week period.

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of this module, students should be able to demonstrate an ability to apply core legal and transferable skills, particularly skills of legal research, analysis, writing, and oral presentation to definite factual situations and problems. Students will also understand the English Legal System.

Additional outcomes:

In addition to those listed in the School’s ‘Core Skills Statement’, the module aims to facilitate the further development of ICT and communication skills.

Outline content:

1. An introduction to higher legal education


2. Finding and using legal source materials


3. Successful writing in a legal academic style


4. Doing legal research


5. How to work with legal cases and ability to summarise them


6. Good practice in referencing


7. Presentation skills


8. Team working skills


9.  Problem Solving Skills


10. How to use legal citations


11. Understanding and Using Academic Articles

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

This module will be taught by lectures and tutorials in the Autumn term.  Delivery will be a blended approach of face-to-face teaching and online lectures which students will watch in their own time.  Wherever possible subject to University and Government guidelines, there will be live lectures.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures	16
Tutorials	8
Practicals classes and workshops	2
Guided independent study:	130	44
Total hours by term	156	44	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	20
Portfolio	20
Project output other than dissertation	20
Oral assessment and presentation	20
Class test administered by School	20

Summative assessment- Examinations:
Not applicable as the module is continuously assessed.

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Assessment will be 100% continuous throughout the Autumn and Spring term.

Continual assessment will be:

• A podcast on a topic discussed in tutorials 1 and 2 to be submitted in week 4.


• All quizzes to be completed and submitted in week 6.


• A group presentation which will be in conducted in week 7.


• An individual reflection of the Group Presentation to be submitted in week 7.


• A personal portfolio submitted in the Spring Term in week 7.

These assessments will link with the module objectives. Grading will not be introduced in the module; only a pass or fail will be recorded.  40% or above is required to pass.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

This module will be marked on a pass/fail basis. Students must pass (i.e. obtain a mark of at least 40%) in all assessed elements of the module including all eight online quizzes and each of the other individual elements of the assessment.

Reassessment arrangements:

• Individuals who fail the podcast assessment will be required to resubmit in the Summer re-sit period.


• Any group failing the group presentation will be given an additional chance to complete this assessment in the Summer re-sit term as an individual.


• Students failing the personal portfolio must resubmit the work in the Summer re-sit period.


• Students failing the quizzes must re-take these in the Summer re-sit period.


• Students failing the individual presentation reflection will be asked to complete this exercise in the Summer re-sit period.

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 8 April 2021