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

Indicative Syllabus
This module presents an opportunity for students to gain an understanding of access to justice for welfare rights in a local and national policy context. Students will also have the opportunity to gain practical legal skills, and to assist clients with welfare benefits form filling.
There are two elements:
1) issues in access to justice, and 2) practical legal skills:
1) Issues in access to justice
- the history, theory and current state of access to justice.
- current issues with the welfare benefits system
- the local and national policy contexts for the provision of free legal advice
2) Practical placement
- Developing the skills and knowledge required for effective legal advice giving. These include skills such as interview techniques, ethics and research skills.
- Undertaking practical advice giving activity

Teaching Pattern
Weeks 1-3:
Asynchronous: 10 hours of lectures and other practical skills development activities online
Synchronous:
1 x 2 hours seminar (2 x groups 24 students) – Preference on campus
• Group exercises to consolidate asynchronous materials
• Practical form filling practice
1 x 2 hours seminar (2 x groups 24 students) – Preference Online
• Practical interviewing practice
• Practical form filling practice
Weeks 4-11:
Synchronous: Form Filling Drop-in: Two times a week, we would run a four-hour drop in form filling service. The students would be split into 8 groups of 6 students, and timetabled for a 2 hour slot every other week. The appointments would take place online, with the students (ordinarily interviewing in pairs) in a room together in SLSJ and the client over Zoom or Teams. Either James or I would be in a location in SLSJ where students can consult us wit h questions in a socially distanced way and where we can review forms.
Week 5,7,9,11: Group E Tues 1-3, Group F Tues 3-5, Group G Thurs. 1-3, Group H Thurs. 3-5
Week 12:
Asynchronous 2 hours of revision materials
Synchronous: 2 x 2 hrs drop in sessions to support students with assessments.

Module Delivery
Via combination of asynchronous and synchronous sessions i.e. Hybrid Active Learning