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Family Law In Practice - LAW00077H

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  • Department: The York Law School
  • Module co-ordinator: Mrs. MARY-JANE or M-J Horgan
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: H
  • Academic year of delivery: 2021-22

Module summary

Family Law in Practice is a practical module involved in the application of law and procedure in realistic family scenarios. Students will run ongoing client case files throughout the course, dealing with their clients’ particular legal issues. These will build, session by session, and introduce the students to the practical side of family law such as: drafting court applications and documents, client letters, financial negotiations and settlements. Whilst it may be moderately advantageous to have studied Family Law in Year 2, this Year 3 module is a standalone course, with early foundation plenaries that will provide those who haven’t studied the subject in Year 2 with the basic law.

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Autumn Term 2021-22

Module aims

This module seeks to provide students with a practical perspective on family law. Students will develop a deep and systematic understanding of law and procedure relevant to family law practice by drafting documents and making court applications in relation to: a number of simulated family law matters, including:

  • the dissolution of marriages and civil partnerships;
  • entitlements to property during marriages and civil partnerships and following the breakdown of such relationships;
  • children;
  • the protection of persons within families from abuse;

Practical skills to be developed include:

  • client letter drafting and writing
  • drafting court documents and applications
  • legal research for practice

 

Module learning outcomes

At the end of the module students will be able to demonstrate:

  • A deep and systematic understanding of the practical application of family law and procedure in England & Wales;
  • Systematic practical research skills;
  • The ability to draft basic legal documents to meet procedural requirements and reflect client interests;
  • Oral and written client communication skills;
  • The ability to analyse family law problems and identify relevant legal issues and stakeholder interests;
  • The ability to create solutions to client problems compliant with legal requirements and professional regulations;
  • Critical evaluation of client options, as well as contemporary issues in family law and practice. 

Module content

This module introduces students to the professional and practical side of family law in practice. Students will build a portfolio of legal documents relating to their family law clients over the length of the course as they navigate simulated problem solving, legal advice, negotiations and court applications. At the end of the course, students will reflect on the processes their client files have taken them through, and will also select one area of family law they have studied to research and write about about. 

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay (2,500 words)		 N/A 60
Essay/coursework
Reflective Analysis/Portfolio		 N/A 40

Special assessment rules

None

Additional assessment information

The formative work is embedded through workshop activities including the creation client files/portfolios. Formative feedback will be provided through a combination of peer review and tutor feedback. 

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Essay (2,500 words)		 N/A 60
Essay/coursework
Reflective Analysis/Portfolio		 N/A 40

Module feedback

Students will receive individual written feedback on their assessments, plus overall generic feedback as a group. There is also opportunity for oral feedback. During the module there will be peer feedback on portfolio outputs. 

Indicative reading

  • Family law : text, cases, and materials. Author: Miles, Joanna ISBN:9780191869693 (ebook) Edition: 4th edn Oxford University Press;

  • Family law and practice: Author: Duffield, Nancy, ISBN: 9781912363261 (ePub ebk.) Edition: 2020/21 edition. College of Law Publishing;

  • Hayes and Williams' family law. Author: Gilmore, Stephen ISBN: 9780198811862 (pbk.) Edition: Sixth edition Oxford University Press

  • A practical approach to family law, Author: Black, Jill M., author. ISBN: 9780198737605 Edition: Tenth edition. Oxford : Oxford University Press

 

 

 


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.