Core Units
Property Law and Practice
Property Law and Practice workshops will be based primarily on a 3-link chain of residential conveyances. Students will hold files for the 2 joint sellers/buyers in the middle of the chain. You will progress these files from taking initial instructions to completion and post-completion formalities. In this way you will appreciate the nature of a property transaction and be able to identify and perform the critical steps in a transaction.
Business Law and Practice
On completion of this unit, you will gain an understanding of the nature and structure of the different business media. You will be able to select an appropriate medium and structure to meet the client's commercial requirements and to advise on the legal and taxation implications. You will also be able to progress basic business transactions arising during the life and development of a business, and gain an understanding of the interests of different parties involved in the business including directors, shareholders and creditors.
Civil and Criminal Litigation
In the civil litigation workshops you will deal with civil disputes looking at case studies about breach of contract and negligence from receipt of initial instructions through to trial and enforcement of judgments. Along the way you will learn about the Civil Procedure Rules so that you understand their objective and application in litigation cases.
In the criminal litigation workshops you will advise on a range of offences at different stages of the criminal litigation process from detention by the police to the procedures leading to magistrates and crown court trial, evidence and sentencing. This will equip you to identify the steps and strategies that need to undertaken in the preparation and conduct of criminal litigation.
Professional Conduct and Regulation
This provides an introduction to the regulation of solicitors and the outcomes focus approach to regulation adopted by the SRA. The workshops, on line activities and directed reading will cover the following areas:
- Professional Conduct incorporating the relevant parts of the Solicitors Code of Conduct. The Profession incorporating its organisation, regulation and ethics
- Financial Services incorporating relevant legislation and regulations
- Money Laundering incorporating The Money Laundering Regulations.
Solicitor's Accounts
You will learn about the Solicitors Accounts Rules, how to deal with office and client money and the requirements in respect of trust monies. You will progressively develop your ability to draw up and interpret accounts and to identify and apply the relevant parts of the Solicitors Accounts Rules to ensure compliance with your professional responsibilities.
Wills and Administration of Estates
This unit will give you n a general overview of the content, format and validity of wills, obtaining grants of representation and administration of an estate by way of a combination of face-to-face teaching as well as by supported study including directed reading and on-line teaching. Your learning experience has a strong practical element and you are encouraged to consider issues such as client care and the rules of professional conduct where relevant.
Practical Legal Research
You will be introduced to the principles and criteria that underpin effective practical legal research, together with a range of general research skills Teaching will revolve around case-studies in which students will be required to undertake different research problems in a range of legal contexts, using appropriate paper and electronic resources and tools. In this way you will understand that effective Practical Legal Research skills and knowledge are necessary in all legal practice areas.
Interviewing and Advising
There will be interviewing and advising teaching in workshops across all the core subjects in terms of "real life" case studies and documents so that you will learn the skills necessary to conduct a legal interview and give legal advice as you would do in all areas of legal practice.
Advocacy
You will gain an understanding of the principles that underpin effective legal advocacy and good practice. Teaching will be primarily in the context of Civil and Criminal litigation, however, advocacy skills also can be transferred to in any area of legal practice where presentation skills are used.
Drafting
You will be introduced to the skills of drafting technical legal documents to be used at different stages of the legal proceedings. You will develop your general drafting skills, your understanding of style and terminology, remedies, including whether a range of remedies should be pursued and applicable time limits, contract and tort.
Writing
Writing is a skill developed in workshops in core subject areas using case studies and to acquire the skills necessary to communicate effectively in the context of solicitors practice. You will be required to research legal problems and then write using the appropriate medium tailored to suit the purpose of the communication and the needs of the recipient.
Taxation
Taxation impacts on many areas of solicitors practice and in this unit you will acquire a sufficient grasp of tax law concerning Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Inheritance Tax, Corporation Tax, Vat and Capital Allowances to be able to use your knowledge to give initial advice in context of the core of the course. The unit integrates the workplace into the curriculum using case studies to develop your skills in a practical context.
