LC7023 - Interviewing Skills (2021/22)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2021/22 | ||||||||||
| Module title | Interviewing Skills | ||||||||||
| Module level | Masters (07) | ||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 5.5 | ||||||||||
| School | Guildhall School of Business and Law | ||||||||||
| Total study hours | 55 | ||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2021/22(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
The module aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop or improve their interviewing and advising skills.
Prior learning requirements
Qualifying Law Degree
Syllabus
Reflecting on good/bad interview technique
Revision of Probate law from i-LGS
(see the Wills and Administration of Estates module specification)
Preparation for best practice in interviewsImproving interview technique Revision of Intestacy law from i-LGS
Application of law to interview technique
Revision of Revenue Law
Mock interviews
Covers all Learning Outcomes
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
Practical formative role-play assessments to prepare students for the Summative role-play assessment. WebLearn is used to give access to previous interviews and to weblinks on interview technique.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this area, students should demonstrate an understanding of the principles and techniques of the skills of interviewing and advising.
Element 1: Interviewing
Students should:
1. be able to choose an appropriate way to obtain relevant information
2. be able to plan, prepare for and identify the objectives of an interview
3. be able to develop interview pro forma.
4. understand how to conduct an effective interview that elicits the relevant information,
allows the client to explain any concerns, anticipates the client’s questions and has
clear outcomes
5. be able to listen actively and use appropriate questioning techniques
6. recognise features of good and bad interviews
7. be able to establish a professional relationship
8. know how to comply with money laundering regulations when establishing client retainer.
Element 2: Advice and Follow up
Students should be able to:
1. Advise the client taking into account the client’s objectives, priorities and constraints
and addressing all relevant factual, practical and legal issues
2. Identify possible courses of action, the legal and non-legal consequences of a course
of action (including the costs, benefits and risks) and assist the client in reaching a
decision
3. Identify any further decisions to be made or steps to be taken and manage the
client’s expectations including likely outcomes and timescales
4. Accurately record an interview, advice given orally, decisions made by the client and
follow-up steps and, where appropriate, confirm instructions in each case in accordance with the outcomes for writing
5. Identify the circumstances in which to take instructions or seek advice from a supervising solicitor.
Assessment strategy
The assessment is an oral interview of a fictitious client in the context of Wills and the Administration of Estates. Students will receive a separate result for Wills and Administration of Estates and for Interviewing Skills.
The assessment is designed to replicate practice and enable students to demonstrate the application of legal principles in a realistic, practical context. There is a formative assessment which is recorded so that it can be reviewed by students in their own time. Oral feedback is given at the time of the formative assessment by the tutor and peers.
Students are given feedback on a weekly basis on their mock interviews. Summative feedback is released after marking.
Bibliography
Basic Texts
Skills for Lawyers, University of Law Publishing
Online Materials
Supporting WebLearn materials and student study materials