LAW10420 Legal and Professional Skills

Academic Year 2022/2023

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; legal writing and referencing skills.

Students will have the opportunity to reflect on activities that will support their career and professional development, and develop their presentation and negotiation skills. Students are also introduced to their Academic Advisor and will have an opportunity to discuss their progress in university with their Advisor.

This module also includes an online workshop on Consent, run in conjunction with Active* Consent.

The module is delivered face to face with supplementary support provided online via Brightspace. Teaching will be interactive and students are encouraged to ask questions in class.


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

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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 face to face with additional online activities to be completed.
Students will be assigned work to prepare each week. This may be reading chapters in a textbook, watching short videos, 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.



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

5
Multiple Choice Questionnaire (Short): MCQ 4 (via Brightspace) Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

5
Multiple Choice Questionnaire (Short): MCQ 2 (via Brightspace) Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

5
Attendance: Individual Academic Advisor meeting (feedback meeting) Week 9 n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale No

5
Continuous Assessment: Online plagiarism exercise Week 5 n/a Graded No

10
Multiple Choice Questionnaire (Short): MCQ 1 (via Brightspace) Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

5
Assignment: Legal Writing (500 words) Week 10 n/a Graded No

60
Attendance: Group Academic Advisor meeting Varies over the Trimester n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale No

5

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, on an activity or draft prior to summative 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 formative feedback on your 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 Niamh Howlin Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Cliona Kelly Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Leonie Phipps Lecturer / Co-Lecturer