LC7034 - Professional Conduct and Regulation (2021/22)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2021/22 | ||||||||||
| Module title | Professional Conduct and Regulation | ||||||||||
| Module level | Masters (07) | ||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 1.5 | ||||||||||
| School | Guildhall School of Business and Law | ||||||||||
| Total study hours | 15 | ||||||||||
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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 addresses main aspects of professional conduct and regulation, including in relation to client care as well as aspects of money laundering and financial services relevant to legal practice.
The module aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop or improve their knowledge of the rules of professional conduct governing solicitors and the regulation of money laundering and financial service provisions.
Prior learning requirements
Qualifying Law Degree
Syllabus
Tutor Led Session 1 – Professional Conduct
- the Solicitors’ Code of Practice and the areas likely to be encountered by a trainee solicitor, which include:
- the core principles of the Code
- acting only when competent to do so
- principles and practices of good client relations, client care and information about costs
- conflicts of interest
- client confidentiality and disclosure
- professional undertakings
- the solicitor and the court
- avoiding discrimination and promoting equality and diversity
- have been introduced to the organisation, regulation and ethics of the profession, including:
- the requirements of practice
- in-house practice
- business management of private practice
- relations with third parties
Tutor Led Session 2 – Financial Services and Money Laundering
- the purpose and scope of financial services regulation
- the financial services regulatory framework and how it applies to solicitors’ firms
- when relevant financial services issues might arise
- the requirement to apply financial services provisions to the types of work likely to be carried out by a trainee solicitor
- appropriate sources of information on financial services
- money laundering legislation and the international context, including with regard to the Money Laundering Regulations and Proceeds of Crime Act 2002
- circumstances encountered in the course of practice (particularly those types of work likely to be undertaken by a trainee solicitor) where a suspicion of money laundering should be reported.
Covers all Learning Outcomes
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
2 one-hour and thirty minutes large group (tutor led) sessions in the Foundation Course and further teaching and practice throughout the course. (This area pervades all other areas of the course and is considered when appropriate in the context of the different modules.)
Learning outcomes
At the conclusion of the Professional Conduct and Financial Services sessions and the course students should:
· understand what professional conduct is and why they need to know about it
· be aware of the basic principles of professional conduct
· understand the main rules of general application and their impact
· understand why financial services are regulated and why they need to know about such regulation
· understand the basic regulatory framework
· understand how the main rules and regulations impact on solicitors
· understand and appreciate what money laundering is and why it is undesirable
· be aware of the legislation in this area
· understand the rules and regulations governing solicitors in this area
Assessment strategy
The assessment is an open book assessment, which is designed to replicate practice and enable students to demonstrate the application of legal principles in a realistic, practical context.
Students are provided with sample assessments with associated examiner’s guidance.
Bibliography
Basic Text
Legal Foundations Manual, University of Law Publishing
Online Materials
Supporting WebLearn materials and student study materials