LAW10420 Legal and Professional Skills

Academic Year 2020/2021

This five-credit module introduces students to the skills and knowledge which are essential to the study of Law, effective learning at university and professional development. Students will be given a solid foundation in the skills of legal research, reading and analysing legal materials and legal writing. The module also introduces basic legal terminology and explains the main sources of law. Students will learn about career options and will have the opportunity to reflect on activities that will support their professional development. The module is delivered in a ‘blended’ format, combining virtual and face-to-face learning activities.

** Penultimate and final year Law students are not permitted to register to this module as their in programme or Horizons elective.**

Show/hide contentOpenClose All

Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this module students should be able to:

Understand what is expected of them as active and autonomous University learners;
Understand essential legal words and phrases;
Be familiar with the structure of the Irish legal system;
Effectively use legal and academic databases to find relevant sources;
Critically read and effectively reference primary and secondary sources of law;
Understand the hierarchy of legal sources and apply this in practice;
Understand the career options open to Law graduates;
Develop written presentation skills;
Work independently, developing the skill of time management;
Better understand their own learning strengths, styles, values, skills, interests and preferences;
Understand and effectively use feedback on learning.

Indicative Module Content:

Introduction to Law and University Learning
Reading Cases and Legislation
Legal Research
Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
Legal Writing
Presentation Skills
Skills Development
Answering Problem Questions
Industry Insights
Making Use of Feedback

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

20
Small Group

1
Specified Learning Activities

30
Autonomous Student Learning

20
Online Learning

30
Total

101
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
This module is delivered in a ‘blended’ format, which means it uses a mixture of both in-person classroom sessions and online activities.
Students will be assigned work to prepare each week. This may be reading chapters in the textbook, reading cases or other legal sources, completing online quizzes, completing online tutorials, or preparing written work. Students are expected to engage with all teaching and learning activities; this will be essential for keeping up with the continuous assessment on the module.

Powerpoint slides will be made available on Brightspace, along with recordings of in-person classes. These will be supplemented with other resources, such as short videos, outlines and external resources.


 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
SCI10040 - Prepare for Your Future Career


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Attendance: Group Academic Advisor meeting Week 1 n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale No

5
Continuous Assessment: Online plagiarism exercise Week 5 n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale No

10
Attendance: Individual Academic Advisor meeting (feedback meeting) Week 9 n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale No

5
Assignment: Legal Writing 1 (500 words) Week 7 n/a Graded No

25
Multiple Choice Questionnaire (Short): MCQ 1 (via Brightspace) Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

2
Multiple Choice Questionnaire (Short): MCQ 3 (via Brightspace) Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

3
Assignment: Legal Writing 2 (problem question) Week 11 n/a Graded No

45
Multiple Choice Questionnaire (Short): MCQ 2 (via Brightspace) Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

2
Multiple Choice Questionnaire (Short): MCQ 4 (via Brightspace) Varies over the Trimester n/a Graded No

3

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Online automated feedback
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback is an important part of learning, particularly at University where students are expected to be active and independent learning. Feedback helps you to understand your strengths and weaknesses; identify gaps in your knowledge; and learn how to improve. This module is assessed through continuous assessment, and different types of feedback are available: Individual and group feedback on your first Legal Writing assignment. This feedback can then be incorporated into the second Legal Writing assignment. Feedback provided when the online plagiarism tutorial and MCQs are completed. Individual and group feedback on specific issues discussed during staff virtual office hours / raised in class.

Name Role
Assoc Professor Cliona Kelly Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Leonie Phipps Lecturer / Co-Lecturer