module specification

 This module offers a balance between the teaching of substantive law, practice and practical skills and focuses on common types of cases dealt with by family lawyers.

The aims of the Family Law and Practice elective are to prepare students for work-based learning in a Family Law department; and to provide a foundation for practice generally and Family Law work in particular.

Qualifying Law Degree

 Divorce
Private Law
Children Act Matters
Ancillary Relief
Domestic Abuse
Co-habitation

Cover all Learning Outcomes

8 one-hour tutor-led sessions (TLS) (40 learning hours) and 8 two-hour student-led sessions (SLS) (80 learning hours). The TLS are one week ahead of the SLS’s to allow students time for reflection. Students are required to prepare questions in the SLS’s in advance of each session.

 Module learning outcomes

At the end of an elective, successful students, under appropriate supervision, should be able in the context of family of law and practice to:

1. demonstrate their knowledge and understanding and employ the applicable skills in family of law and practice including divorce, ancillary relief, domestic violence, matters involving children and relationship breakdown for non-married couples
2. use the legal knowledge, skills, procedures and behaviours appropriate to each family law client and each transaction or matter
3. identify the overall nature of the family law dispute, then plan and progress that matter through a series of steps and decisions including, where appropriate, drafting documentation
4. identify the client's goals and alternative means of achieving those goals, understanding the importance of negotiation and encouraging the settlement of a dispute in accordance with best practice professional guidelines and deal appropriately with client care
5. investigate and identify the relevant facts, research and identify the relevant legal issues, and advise the client on the legal consequences
6. recognise and act within the rules of professional conduct
7. identify the client’s reasonable expectations as to quality and timeliness of service

Element 1 – Divorce

Students should:

1. be able to competently advise a client in relation to divorce proceedings, to include practical advice on funding and negotiation and the drafting relevant correspondence;
2. have a full understanding of undefended divorce procedure up to and including obtaining decree absolute and be able to draft all necessary documentation to progress the case for a Petitioner.

Element 2 – Private Law Children Matters

Students should:

1. be familiar with funding issues in relation to instructions to act on a private law  matter concerning children;
2. be able to draft competently relevant court documentation;
3. be able to advise in relation to issues concerning parental responsibility;
4. be able to provide appropriate advice to a client on the factors the court will take into account on a private law application for an order in relation to children and how they will be applied

Element 3 – Ancillary Relief

Students should:

1. be able to recommend appropriate action to be taken and have consideration for important preliminary matters on receipt by a client of instructions to issue ancillary relief proceedings;
2. have an understanding the law and enforceability of pre-nuptial agreements;
3. be able to advise on the procedure for ancillary relief applications and draft appropriate documents, to include a Consent Order;
4. be able to advise a client on preliminary issues concerning child maintenance and welfare benefits;
5. have a full understanding of the application of ancillary relief law and provide appropriate advice in the context of a case, to include advice on costs and negotiation;
6. have an appreciation of law and procedure in relation to preventing and setting aside dispositions and provide appropriate advice on varying orders and enforcing them.
Element 4 – Domestic Abuse

Students should:

1. have an understanding of the law and procedure in relation to applications to the Court for occupation and non-molestation orders;
2. be able to identify and complete the relevant documentation to apply for occupation and non-molestation orders;
3. be able to advise fully on the manner in which domestic abuse can effect Children Act applications

Element 5 – Co-habitation

Students should:

1. understand the law in relation to the rights of cohabitants in making claims against former partner’s estates on death;
2. have an appreciation of salient advice that can be given to clients on the value of cohabitation agreements;
3. be familiar with the law in relation to the rights of cohabitating couples to continue to occupy property following relationship breakdown.

 The assessment is an open book exam with advance disclosure of documents and is of a transactional nature. This form of assessment is designed to replicate practice and enable students to demonstrate the application of legal principles in a realistic, practical context.

Students are given a formative assessment in the last SLS of the module which is self-assessed during this consolidation group SLS and they receive examiners' guidance.
The summative assessment is an open book exam with advance disclosure of documents and is of a transactional nature.

This form of assessment is designed to replicate practice and enable students to demonstrate the application of legal principles in a realistic, practical context. Students are offered individual feedback sessions with tutors following the release of marks and receive examiner’s guidance.

 
Basic Text
Family Law and Practice Manual, University of Law Publishing

Online Materials
Supporting WebLearn materials and student study materials
Additional Texts
Family Law Statutes
Hayes and Williams' Family Law, OUP

Practitioners’ Texts
The Family Law Protocol
Butterworth’s Family Law Service.
The Family Court Practice, Family Law.
Sweet & Maxwell: Practical Matrimonial Precedents: Burrows
Wood, Lush and Bishop:  Cohabitation: Law, Practice and Precedents

Electronic Sources
www.lawreportsonline.co.uk
www.butterworths.co.uk (general family database, includes Butterworths Family Law Service, Rayden & Jackson, Clarke Hall Morrison, Jackson on Taxation, Essential Family Practice, Legislation, Family Court Reports and Reporter, Unreported transcripts and Forms and Precedents from EF&P)
www.familylaw.co.uk/html/family_law.html (Jordans Publishing website)
www.open.gov.uk/lcd/ (Lord Chancellor’s Dept.)
www.the-times.co.uk (useful for reported cases)
www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk (House of Lords website – good source of reported cases)
www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/ (HMSO legislation)
www.library.lawsociety.org.uk (The Law Society Library)
www.beagle.org.uk/hra/newindex.htm (human rights)
www.lawsociety.co.uk (general information)
www.lawgazette.co.uk (general information – also provides useful links)
www.jordansonlineservices.co.uk