LC7031 - Advocacy Skills (2023/24)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2023/24 | ||||||||||
| Module title | Advocacy Skills | ||||||||||
| Module level | Masters (07) | ||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 0 | ||||||||||
| School | Guildhall School of Business and Law | ||||||||||
| Total study hours | 30 | ||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2023/24(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
This module focuses on the development of the skills of a presenting advocate including the ability to formulate and present a submission and to conduct or respond to cross-examination.
The module aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop or improve their advocacy skills.
Prior learning requirements
Qualifying Law Degree
Syllabus
1. Advocacy overview
2. Developing advocacy skills
3. Bail applications in the Magistrates’ Court
4. Advocacy skills exercise
5. Court visits
Covers all Learning Outcomes
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
5-minute presentation on a subject of the student’s choice for 5 minutes. This is to help build confidence and practice a structured argument within a time limit.
Oral presentations of 10 minutes in the role of Prosecutor or Defence.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Advocacy sessions, students should:
1. understand the importance of preparation and the best way to undertake it
2. understand the basic skills of preparing an advocacy plan and the presentation of cases before courts and tribunals
3. be able to formulate and present a coherent submission based upon facts, general principles and legal authority in a structured, concise and persuasive manner
4. have increased their confidence in their advocacy skills.
Element 1: Case Analysis and Preparation
Students should be able to:
1. identify and analyse the relevant facts, the legal context in which the factual issues
arise, and how they relate to each other
2. summarise the strengths and weakness of the case from each party’s perspective
3. prepare the legal framework of the case, and a simple narrative outline of the facts
4. prepare and structure the submission as a series of propositions based on the evidence
5. identify, analyse and assess the purpose and tactics of examination-in-chief, cross-
examination and re-examination to adduce rebut and clarify evidence.
Element 2: Oral Presentations
Students should be able to:
1. Identify, analyse and assess the specific communication skills and techniques
employed by a presenting advocate
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the ethics, etiquette and conventions of advocacy
Assessment strategy
The assessment is an oral application to a fictitious Magistrates' Court for 10 minutes (consisting of an oral presentation followed by cross-examination). The 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 and receive oral feedback.
Students are given a mock advocacy assessment in week 9 and receive oral and or written feedback. Following the summative assessment, feedback sheets are returned to all students.
Bibliography
Basic Texts
Criminal Litigation, University of Law Publishing
Foundation Course Manual, University of Law Publishing
Online Materials
Supporting WebLearn materials and student study materials