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Advanced Legal Skills - LAW00007I

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  • Department: The York Law School
  • Module co-ordinator: Mrs. Claire Illingworth
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: I
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25

Module summary

This module builds on learning in the Year 1 Legal Skills modules through the exploration of the application of legal knowledge in practical legal contexts to represent clients. Students will practice (and then reflect on) their interviewing, negotiation, presentation and written legal skills.

Related modules

Pre-requisite modules

Co-requisite modules

  • None

Prohibited combinations

  • None

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 1 2024-25

Module aims

  • To give students an opportunity of developing further a broad range of intellectual, practical and transferable skills which are integrated into or relate to ther modules on the programme
  • To introduce students to more advanced practical legal skills
  • To deepen students use of a variety of teaching and learning styles including:
    • problem-based learning
    • reflective learning
    • collaborative learning
  • To increase students capacity for independent and reflective learning including the use of the Learning Portfolio as an aid to personal development
  • To encourage a critical awareness of the uses of legal knowledge to perform legal tasks

Module learning outcomes

At the end of this module students should be able to

  • Apply experiential learning practices by actively reflecting on a range of advanced legal skills, and identifying and implementing personally challenging and practicable actions for improvement (MLO 1)
  • Identify and evaluate the application of key theories of group learning to a student's own legal studies. (MLO 2)
  • Demonstrate and evaluate the effectiveness of the analysis and use of complex and disputable facts in preparing for, and performing, a range of legal tasks. (MLO3)
  • Demonstrate and evaluate the effectiveness of legal research practices through critical reflection on the identification of research questions, steps undertaken to gain legal knowledge, and use of that knowledge in preparing for, and performing, a range of legal tasks(MLO 4)
  • Demonstrate and evaluate the use of effective factual and legal preparation and the implementation of a range of oral and written communication skills and techniques to achieve effective performance of a range of legal tasks. (MLO5)
  • Demonstrate a positive contribution to the learning and development of your own legal skills and those of others by regular attendance and active participation in the learning activities on the ALS module (MLO6)

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Reflective Learning Portfolio		 N/A 80
Groupwork
Contributions to Learning		 N/A 20

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

The reflective learning portfolio involves students selecting work during the year in which they have developed and improved and their account of how they have done so (and how they may do so further). The portfolio consists of 2,500 words of reflective analysis combined with a selection of evidence submitted by the student and linked to the reflective analysis document.

The assessment of contributions is based on student participation and and engagement with group learning activities during the module, including preparation for, contribution to and positive and useful engagement with learning activities. Formative feedback is provided after consolidation week and in feedback to groups during the year.

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Contributions Reflective Essay		 N/A 20
Essay/coursework
Reflective Learning Portfolio		 N/A 80

Module feedback

Formative feedback is given on a short (500 word) learning portfolio as well as on contributions to learning during the semester. Feedback is also given on the performance of key skills and activities during each session. Students are given written feedback (including comments on the work submitted) on the final portfolio,. Students gain feedback on their contributions following the consolidation week.

Indicative reading

  • D Capps, et al, A Practical Guide to Lawyering Skills (Routledge 2019)
  • C. Maughan and J. Webb, Lawyering Skills and the Legal Process (CUP)
  • R. Fisher et al, Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement without Giving In: The Secret to Successful Negotiation (Random House)


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.