Law School Module Details
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title Public Interest Lawyering
Code LAW364
Coordinator Dr J Organ
Law
James.Organ@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2023-24 Level 6 FHEQ First Semester 15

Aims

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

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

Students will develop an understanding of the issues and impact of policy and law relating to access to justice and public interest lawyering.

Learning Outcomes

(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

Syllabus
 

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 public interest lawyering, and 2) practical placement:

1) Issues in access to justice and public interest lawyering
- the history, theory and current state of access to justice
- social citizenship, the welfare state and workers rights
- the local and national policy contexts for the provision of free legal advice

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

Teaching and Learning Strategies

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: Placement skills learning
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: In weeks 1 and 2 students will have 4 x 2 hrs seminars covering: public interest lawyering, policy context and practical skills related to their placement. These will cover learning related to the specific placement activity, confidentiality and other principles related to legal advice giving, and interviewing skills.
In week 12 there will be a final revision seminar.

Teaching Method 3 - Lecture
Description: Access to justice and public interest lawyering theory and issues
Attendance Recorded: Yes
Notes: In weeks 4, 6 and 8 module lectures will cover: Access to justice and public interest law yering theory and issues, social citizenship and the welfare state, the availability of free legal advice, and issues related to work and welfare rights.

These lectures develop understanding of the policy and theoretical context of their placement activities, and prepares students for the application of their practical and academic learning in their summative legal reform report.
Indicative syllabus is set out above, and detailed in the module handbook.

Students will have a formative assessment opportunity in this seminar.

Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours 12

 10

     45

   67
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 102
TOTAL HOURS 169

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
85 % - Placement informed short dissertation. The student leads on finding their own research topic and deciding the title and content. The dissertation will be in the form of an access to justice r  0    85       
• 10% Attendance at placement; as confirmed with placement supervisor  0    10       
Assessment 1 5 % - Approval of student generated title and paragraph explaining proposed content for assessment 3 Learning outcomes tested by this assessment: LO4 Skills tested by this assessment: S  0    5       

Recommended Texts
Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.

Other Staff Teaching on this Module
 

Modules for which this module is a pre-requisite:
 

Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements):
 

Co-requisite modules:
 

Programme(s) (including Year of Study) to which this module is available on a required basis:
 

Programme(s) (including Year of Study) to which this module is available on an optional basis:
 

Additional Programme Information