Students will develop legal advice-giving skills through undertaking tasks within a practical context.

Students will apply academic or theoretical knowledge within a practical context.

Students will develop an understanding of issues relating to access to justice issues and their impact.

(LO1) On completion of module, students will have the skills to interview clients, research and analyse the relevant law and present this in legal writing.

(LO2) Demonstrate a critical understanding of the services offered by the organisation and the broader sector in the context of access to justice.

(LO3) Demonstrate a critical understanding of the concepts of and current issues related to access to justice.

(LO4) To identify the connection between academic or theoretical knowledge and its practical application.

(S1) Problem Solving Skills

(S2) Communication Skills

(S3) Ethical Awareness

(S4) Teamwork

(S5) Adaptability

(S6) Organisational Skills

This module presents an opportunity for students to gain credit for understanding access to justice in a local and national policy context and for experience in a placement with a public sector or voluntary organisation.

There are two elements: 1) issues in access to justice, and 2) practical placement:

1) Issues in access to justice
- the history and current state of access to justice.

- the nature of non-profit organisations and access to justice within the local and national policy contexts.

2) Practical placement
- Developing the skills and knowledge required for effective legal advice giving. These include skills such as interview techniques and research skills.

- Undertaking advice giving volunteer activity in a non-profit organisation or public sector setting.

Syllabus (Indicative):

Timetabling and full details will be available in the module handbook.

Weeks 1-4: 16 hrs including seminars on Access to Justice topi cs, welfare rights and 3rd sector principles and skills; and training at placement provider.

Weeks 5-10: students in situ at placement providers.

At the end of semester (exact timetabling and full details will be available in the module handbook): 3hrs seminars for 15 minute small group poster presentation followed by questions from module leaders and peers. During the presentation students will use handout and/or slides to explain the access to justice issue(s) highlighted by the poster. The poster and presentations will be assessed as a group. There will be an opportunity to make claims of non-participation to module leaders.

Week 12: 2 hrs revision seminar to discuss and analyse access to justice issues seen in placements.

Coursework submitted on coursework deadline day.

Teaching Method 1 - Work Based Learning
Description: Placement to non-profit or public sector agency
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: Supervision and additional training will be provided by the agency with which the student is placed as required.

Teaching Method 2 - Seminar
Description: Access to justice issues and preparatory skills learning
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: The module will open with 4 weeks of introductory seminars covering: Access to justice, welfare benefits, the role of the 3rd sector, clinical principles, and interviewing skills. These seminars prepare students for their placement. Unscheduled directed student hours are to be spent observing interviews at placement provider. The module concludes with a revision seminar in week 12. Indicative syllabus is set out in more detail above.
Unscheduled Directed Student Hours (time spent away from the timetabled sessions but directed by the teaching staff): 2

Teaching Method 3 - Group Project
Description: Development of a poster on an access to justice topic relevant to their placement. Development of handout and/or slides to illustrate group presentation. Group presentation of this poster followed by questions from module leaders and peers.
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: Unscheduled time is spent working in groups to prepare poster, handout/slides and presentation. Scheduled time is for presentation of the posters and questions.
Unscheduled Directed Student Hours (time spent away from the timetabled sessions but directed by the teaching staff): 4