Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC)

Transcription

1 Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice (LPC) 2015/16 Postgraduate Students Award title Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice Programme code LEGAL Faculty Faculty of Business and Law School Leeds Law School

2 Revised Student Charter Text for 2015/16 Course Handbooks (Onsite) Replace the section on page 4 Our Student Charter with the text below. The formatting below should match the current Course Handbook template formatting. Leeds Beckett University Student Charter Working together for success Leeds Beckett University and our Students Union are committed to working in partnership with our students to ensure that our University is an inclusive, safe and engaging learning environment which is conducive to study for its students and work life for its staff. Our Student Charter sets out how we aim to achieve this by working together to understand and fulfil our commitments to one another. Our Student Charter has been produced jointly with the Students Union and we will review it, together, every year. Our University s Vision seeks to put students at the centre of all our activities and this Student Charter is a contribution towards that goal. The Leeds Beckett Student Charter is not a contractual document, but provides a guide to what members of the Leeds Beckett Community can expect of each other in terms of engagement and behaviour. We work to shape and sustain a supportive, safe, inclusive community for active learning and the building of skills for life. We will Work together within a progressive, independent, and active environment which promotes lifelong learning. Support a culture of personal and academic resilience. Collaborate to build partnerships for learning. Work together to sustain our bold, industrious spirit. We forge an environment which builds trust, accountability and transparency. We will Maintain mutually respectful codes of behaviour. 2015/16 Course Handbook 2

3 Promote the availability of information and support for all. Ask each other for help when we need it. Be honest, clear and assertive with each other. Use the means available to give a compliment, raise a concern or make a complaint. Take advantage of opportunities for formal and informal learning. We foster inclusive academic, cultural, social, emotional and creative development for all. We will Share an exciting and challenging curriculum which is contemporary and relevant. Promote a culture of critical enquiry and rigorous scholarship. Support participation in extracurricular opportunities which enhance career and personal development Enable one another to plan, develop, and drive forward our individual educational and career goals. Acknowledge and celebrate our joint and separate successes. We are responsible, diligent, reliable and considerate in our academic and professional actions and behaviours. We will Act with academic integrity. Listen to, and respect, differing perspectives, including those from different cultures and backgrounds. Work together within a positive collaborative learning and working environment, wherever, and however, we engage. Take care with our personal and professional digital identity and recognise the impact it may have on us and others. 2015/16 Course Handbook 3

4 We seek active engagement, feedback and participation in the issues that affect us. We will Work together to enhance our experience of our University. Collaborate to promote learning and support enhancement, through mutual reflection and feedback. Build partnerships to enable our University communities to engage with our external stakeholders. Support the development of courses which prepare our graduates to be ready for work, ready for life and ready to seize the opportunities that lie ahead. Use our knowledge of local and world issues to strengthen our global outlook and build a sustainable environment for a thriving future for all. 2015/16 Course Handbook 4

5 Our Student Entitlements As a full-time or part-time campus-based student you are entitled to: 1. Access online learning materials and resources for every module through a virtual learning environment and have access to the resources and information of an up to date library. 2. Opportunities for on-going feedback on your work and progress towards your assessments in every year of your course. 3. Participate in a course induction, which will be provided at the beginning of each year of your course. 4. A meeting with your personal tutor once per semester. [All new and first year students will be invited to a meeting with their personal tutor within four weeks of the start of their studies]. 5. A course that has been informed in its development by external stakeholders (e.g. employers, professional bodies). 6. Participate in Personal Development Planning within the context of your course. 7. Have the opportunity to engage in embedded activities within your course which develop and enhance your graduate employability and lifelong learning. 8. Receive clear dates at the beginning of each module about your assessment, submission dates, when and how you receive formative feedback on assessment during every module, and how you will receive feedback on marked assessments within the 4 week feedback period. 2015/16 Course Handbook 5

6 9. Receive clear and easy to understand information about your course and the services available to you. 10. Be engaged, via your course student representative, in your course review, evaluation and development processes. 11. Have your questions to our University s services responded to within the advertised timescales in our corporate service standards. 12. Normally be given your course timetable no later than four weeks before the beginning of each semester. 2015/16 Course Handbook 6

7 Contents 1 Welcome to the Course Studying on this Course Assessment and Feedback Where to Get Help What to do if you Relevant Policies /16 Course Handbook 7

8 1 Welcome to the Course 1.1 Message from the Dean Hello, and welcome to new and returning students to Leeds Beckett University s Faculty of Business and Law. On behalf of all the Faculty staff I d like to say how proud we are to have you studying with us, and how excited we are to engage with you throughout every stage of your learning. We re an internationally focussed faculty with a strong business and professional remit that has an impressive history of producing exceptional graduates. Many of our previous students have found great success in their field, from journalism and law, to business, finance and PR. They represent just how our values of commitment, professionalism, enterprise and let s not pretend hard work really does pay off. During your time with us, you ll have plenty of opportunity to extend your learning beyond that of your course. We host a programme of external lectures and events, offer placements to boost both your professional and personal development, and have wellestablished links with various industry organisations and accrediting bodies to help you expand your network. Enjoy your time with us and all the best with your studies. I look forward to meeting you and hearing about your successes. Professor Chris Prince Dean, Faculty of Business and Law 2015/16 Course Handbook 8

9 1.2 Message from your Course Leader I would like to welcome you to the Leeds Law School here at Leeds Beckett University. My name is Yvonne Marsh and I am pleased to be the Course Leader for the LPC. The LPC team is proud of our LPC and proud to be part of Leeds Law School. We believe that we provide a challenging and demanding course that equips students for their training contracts and future career. We also have strong links with the local legal profession including our Professional Mentor Scheme, which is available to every LPC student. You will find that the LPC is predominantly concerned with the application of law to practical situations. Many students think that the LPC is an isolated course and that they can almost dismiss their previous studies and start from scratch but you should remember that your previous academic studies are applied in a different way in a practical setting. Don t forget what you have learned previously you will use the knowledge and skills obtained from your academic stage on your journey to qualification as a solicitor. We hope that your studies on the LPC will be the beginning of a long and enduring relationship with Leeds Law School. This handbook has two purposes. Firstly, it is designed to familiarise you with what you can expect from the LPC and to deal with the Solicitors Regulation Authority s requirements for the course. Secondly, it introduces you to the LPC team and the various LPC student support services and the formal and informal methods by which we hope that any matters ofstudent concern can be raised and settled to everyone s satisfaction. Please read this handbook carefully so that you are familiar with its contents. I hope that your time with us will be challenging, rewarding and successful. Best wishes to you in your future studies. Yvonne Marsh Course Leader PG Diploma in Legal Practice 2015/16 Course Handbook 9

10 1.3 Message from your Head of School Welcome to the 2015/16 academic year at Leeds Law School. Leeds Law School has a heritage of over 70 years with legal education and has trained many thousands of lawyers to degree and masters level and provided their professional legal training too. Many of our alumni have reached the highest levels of legal practise, professionally and in academia and I am committed to help all Leeds Law School students achieve similar success. As such, we have a large number of activities that will assist. These include: careers talks; mooting competitions; opportunities to study, work and volunteer abroad; guest lectures; tours of the courts and Inns of Court; and guest lectures This year, Leeds Law School has a new home in the heart of Beckett s City Campus. Here, we are close to the library, have the benefit of brand new teaching space and also a brand new courtroom. I am sure that we will be very happy here. The legal services market is changing and it is important to appreciate that the position today may well be different in 3 or 4 years time. As such, I would strongly recommend that all of our students seize every opportunity to make contacts with people in the legal profession, attend the guest lectures we organise and undertake useful extra-curricular activities to enhance a CV. As the Head of Leeds Law School I am committed to ensure that you all have the greatest opportunities when it comes to studying law. If there is something that we aren t doing, but ought to be doing, then please do not hesitate to get in touch. I wish you well with your studies. Deveral Capps LLB LLM Cert Ed. Barrister-at-Law Head of Leeds Law School 2015/16 Course Handbook 10

11 1.4 Academic Calendar and Timetable The LPC student calendar is below: Uni week Week com LPC content Formative (mock) assessment dates Summative assessment / board dates 3 07/09/15 Introductory course (FT/PTyr1) 4 14/09/15 Teaching 5 21/09/15 Teaching 6 28/09/15 Teaching 7 05/10/15 Teaching PLR hand in (FT) 8 12/10/15 Teaching Writing hand out(ft) 9 19/10/15 Teaching WAE, I & A (FT/PTyr1) PLR hand out (FT) 10 26/10/15 No Teaching Writing hand in (FT) 11 02/11/15 Teaching PLR hand in (FT) 12 09/11/15 Teaching Drafting hand out(ft) 13 16/11/15 No Teaching (FT) Teaching (PTyr2: as normal) (PTyr1: Thurs only, I&A assessment on Tues ) WAE exam (1 hour) Tuesday pm (TBC) Interviewing and Advising FT Wed (times TBA) PT Yr1 Tues eve (times TBA) Writing hand out (FT) 14 23/11/15 Teaching Drafting hand in (FT) Advocacy (PTyr2) 15 30/11/15 Teaching Advocacy (FT) Writing hand in (FT) 16 07/12/15 Teaching Civil Litigation (FT) Criminal Litigation (FT/PT) PLP(FT) BLP(FT) Advocacy (PTyr2) 17 14/12/15 Teaching Civil Litigation (PTyr2) Drafting hand out(ptyr1) Advocacy (FT) 11

12 Uni week Week com LPC content Formative (mock) assessment dates 18 21/12/15 Christmas Break 19 28/12/15 Christmas Break 20 04/01/16 Teaching (PT) Drafting hand in (PTyr1) No teaching (FT) 21 11/01/16 Teaching BLP(PTyr1) Professional Conduct Regulation (FT) Solicitors Accounts (FT) 22 18/01/16 No teaching (FT) Teaching (PT) 23 25/01/16 No teaching (FT) PLP(PTyr1) Teaching (PT) Professional Conduct Regulation (FTyr2) 24 01/02/16 Teaching (PTyr) Summative assessment / board dates Advocacy Thursday (times TBA) (FT/PTyr2) Drafting hand out (FT/PTyr1) Drafting hand in Cont d 25 08/02/16 Teaching (PTyr1) Assessment Litigation and PCR (FT/PTyr2/REFER) (FT/PTyr2) 26 15/02/16 Revision Sol Accounts (FT) 27 22/02/16 Assessment (FT/PTyr1) BLP and PLP (FT/PTyr1/REFER) 28 29/02/16 Electives Sol Accounts (PTyr1) 29 07/03/16 Electives PLR hand out (PTyr1) Sol Accounts (PTyr1) 30 14/03/16 Electives Writing release (PTyr1) Sol Accounts (PTyr1) 31 21/03/16 Easter Break 32 28/03/16 Easter Break 33 04/04/16 Electives Sol Accounts (PTyr1) PLR hand in (PTyr1) Writing hand in (PTyr1) In-course refers (WAE exam, Advocacy and I&A) 34 11/04/16 Electives Drafting hand out (REFER ) 12

13 Uni week Week com LPC content 35 18/04/16 Electives Sol Accounts (PTyr1) Formative (mock) assessment dates Summative assessment / board dates PLR hand out(ptyr1 and FT REFER) Writing hand out (PTyr1 and FT REFER) Mitigation Panel /Stage 1 exam board TBC April /04/16 Electives Solicitors Accounts (PTyr1) Drafting hand in (REFER) Electives 37 02/05/16 Revision PLR hand in (PTyr1 and FT REFER) Writing hand in (PTyr1 and REFER) 38 09/05/16 Electives Assessment Elective assessments (FT/ PTyr1/PTyr2/REFER) 39 16/05/16 Electives and Solicitor Accounts Assessments Elective assessments (FT/ PTyr1/PTyr2/REFER) and Sol A/cs (PTyr1/Refer) 40 23/05/ /05/16 CPA/PCR Litigation & PCR refers refers/defers 42 06/06/16 CPA/PCR BLP & PLP refers refers/defers 43 13/06/ /06/ /06/16 Mitigation Panel/ St 2 exam Bd / Award Board TBC July /07/16 Results 47 11/07/ /07/16 Graduation (TBC) 13

14 1.5 Key Contacts Course Leader Yvonne Marsh Personal Tutor You will have a personal tutor assigned to you at the beginning of the course. Student Liaison Officer Student Liaison Officers (SLOs) are all recent graduates of our University, who are here to support you throughout your time here and to make sure you have access to and are aware of the support, opportunities and services our University provides. Each faculty has at least one SLO to offer confidential advice and help with: Personal problems & academic issues Advice on mitigation, appeals & complaints procedure Links to services that can assist with a variety of issues (Financial Advice, Disability Support, Course Administration, Accommodation, Counselling, Careers Advice, Students' Union, Skills for Learning, Volunteering and much more) Recruitment and co-ordination of faculty and course Student Academic Representatives (STARS) who they can put you in contact with Finding out what's going on at our University and how you can get involved If you're not sure who can help you, asking your SLO is a great place to start! You can contact them on: SLOBUSLAW@leedsbeckett.ac.uk 14

15 Course Representative Course Representatives are student volunteers who represent your views at course-level, at Faculty Forums and in meetings with academic and administrative staff. Details about being a Course Representative are available at and on the Students Union website Student Administrator Annie Johnstone a.johnstone@leedsbeckett.ac.uk Academic Librarian Each course has a specific Academic Librarian who has detailed knowledge about your chosen subject. He or she will buy all the resources for your subject in the library and will teach you how to make the most of the information available to you during your course. You will meet your Academic Librarian at your induction. Further help is available at the Help and Information Point in each Library. They can be contacted on: Keeping in Touch Academic and administrative staff at our University use your student address to contact you. It is important that you check this account regularly. You can forward s from your student address to a preferred personal address, however, quarantine and spam filters needed by our University mean that s sent from external addresses may be delayed, blocked or deleted. It is therefore important that your student address is the only address that you use to contact University staff. You 15

16 can find how to forward your student address to a preferred personal address or mobile device from: We will inform you of cancelled classes/activities/course notices as soon as possible either via text message, your student address or MyBeckett. For each module, the Module Handbook will include the preferred method of communicating general information about that module to you. Please make sure that you inform your Student Administration team whenever you change your address and contact details. It is important that you also update your records yourself. You can do this via the My Account/Update my Data tab on MyBeckett. This will ensure we can always contact you in an emergency, and that you receive any important University communications that we may need to send you. 16

17 2 Studying on this Course 2.1 Course Structure The LPC at Leeds Law School is delivered in two stages. Stage 1 comprises the following: Core practice areas of Business Law and Practice, Property Law and Practice, and Litigation; Course skills; Professional Conduct and Regulation; Wills and Administration of Estates; Solicitors Accounts; and Taxation Three vocational electives are delivered in and form Stage 2. Introductory period The course will commence with an introductory period, which will enable you to study in some depth elements of the professional nature of the course and for you to appreciate how the course prepares you for work-based learning and for practice. In particular you will consider the course skills and take part in a mini assessment centre. Core practice areas Three core practice areas have been specified as SRA requirements:- Business Law and Practice (BLP); Property Law and Practice (PLP); and Litigation (Criminal and Civil) 17

18 Course skills The following skills have been identified as those in which you should be able to demonstrate a basic competence:- Practical Legal Research; Writing; Drafting; Interviewing and Advising; and Advocacy Professional Conduct and Regulation At the completion of Stage 1 you should be able to identify and act in accordance with the core duties of professional conduct and professional ethics, which are relevant to the LPC. Wills and Administration of Estates At the completion of Stage 1, you should have a general overview of the content, format and validity of wills, obtaining grants of representation and administration of estates. You should also be familiar with the purpose and general structure of relevant documents. Taxation At the completion of Stage 1, you should have sufficient grasp of tax law to enable you to understand the impact of taxation on the areas covered by the LPC. Taxes covered in this component of the course are income tax; capital gains tax; inheritance tax; and corporation tax. 18

19 Vocational electives You will choose three from a range of private client and corporate client vocational electives. These vocational elective subjects will be studied after the conclusion of Stage 1. You will study three vocational electives from the following list: Commercial Law and Practice; Commercial Leases; Commercial Dispute Resolution; Employment Law; Family Law; Mental Health Law; Private Acquisitions; and Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Professional and Career Development Programme The Professional and Career Development Programme is designed to give you an insight into the skills and attributes necessary to be an effective trainee solicitor. The programme reflects the eighth outcome of the LPC at Leeds Law School. There are further details of this as well as information on employability on the LPC Group page on X-Stream. Teaching methods Teaching on the LPC is by workshops of three hours duration. Full time students: In stage 1 you will be taught the three core practice areas concurrently. Workshops for these are delivered in a weekly cycle. 19

20 In stage 2 you choose three electives to study and you are required to attend at least three workshops per week plus some additional professional and Career Development workshops. Part time students: Stage 1 during the first year of study consists of Property Law and Practice; Business Law and Practice; all of the skills, save for Advocacy; Professional Conduct and Regulation; Solicitors Accounts; Taxation; and Wills and Administration of Estates. In the second year the stage 1 subjects taught are Litigation (Civil and Criminal), Advocacy and Professional Conduct and Regulation. During the first year of study you choose one elective, the remaining two electives are studied during the second year of study. All students: There will normally be up to 16 students in each workshop group. The teaching scheme for each subject details the specific areas to be covered. Workshops consist of a mixture of activities and practical exercises concentrating on understanding relevant law and procedure and the appropriate application of skills. The course skills will also be taught by workshops. The number of skills sessions that will be delivered varies with each skill and ranges from 2 3 workshops in total. Pre-reading and preparation for workshops will be based on materials provided in subject documentation. It is essential that you prepare thoroughly for workshops to obtain the maximum benefit from them. Poor preparation can affect your performance and the performance of others in your workshop group. You should note that the use of course textbooks (apart from any legislation handbooks) will not be permitted in workshops, unless specifically indicated by your subject tutor. This 20

21 is to prevent over-reliance on the textbooks and to encourage greater student centred learning. You are free to bring your own notes to workshops.the Professional and Career Development Programme will be delivered by whole groups where appropriate and by workshops comprising up to 16 students. 2.2 Skills you will Gain during the Course Skills Developed Professional skills are an integral part of the LPC and the five assessed skills are Writing, Drafting, practical Legal Research, Interviewing and Advising and Advocacy. Additional Activities/Recognition You will have opportunities to gain recognition during your time at Leeds Beckett University for the extra activities you do in addition to your studies, including volunteering, student societies, playing in our University sports teams and being a Course Representative. 2.3 Graduate Attributes All graduates from our University will be enterprising, digitally literate and have a global outlook. These three graduate attributes are developed with specific, appropriate emphasis in each course and you will be assessed about each of them at every academic level. They will provide you with capabilities which are essential for your employability and wider life as you move on from your studies here. 2.4 Opportunities for Graduates The LPC is a vocational qualification required for entry on training contract programmes. The LPC is approved by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). 21

22 2.5 External Examiner The External Examiner assures that you are assessed fairly in relation to other students on the same course and also that the standard of your own award is comparable to similar courses taken by students in other higher education institutions within the United Kingdom. The details of the External Examiners for this course are as follows: Robert Price (Lead External Examiner) Bolder Solutions Caroline Coles Principal Lecturer De Montfort University Linda Jotham Senior Lecturer The City Law School Tricia Morrissey Senior Lecturer University of South Wales Your Student Administrator can provide details of the External Examiner s report on request. Further details on all External Examiners reports can be located here: 22

23 3 Assessment and Feedback 3.1 Assessment Assessment Strategy Information on the various methods of assessment can be found below. University Assessment Regulations Our University s assessment regulations are contained within the Academic Principles and Regulations (sections C3 and C4 in particular). The regulations are available at: Course-Specific Assessment Regulations and Professional Body Requirements LEGAL PRACTICE COURSE ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS (approved 2013) 1. Definition of terms 1.1 Academic Award means the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice awarded by Leeds Beckett University; 1.2 Assessment Offence means cheating and plagiarism and other attempts at gaining an unfair advantage as defined by Leeds Beckett University; 1.3 Board of Examiners means a board whose members are constituted in accordance with the requirements of the Solicitors Regulation Authority and Leeds Beckett University Regulations; 1.4 Core Practice Areas means all or any of the subjects of Business Law and Practice, Litigation and Property Law and Practice; 1.5 Compensation means the ability to compensate a fail in one assessment with a mark in another; 23

24 1.6 Completion Date means the earliest date on which a student could have potentially successfully completed all assessments for the Course, for example, for a full time student with an enrolment date of September 2013 the Completion Date of the Course will be July 2014, for a part time student with an enrolment date of September 2013 the Completion Date of the Course will be July 2015; 1.7 Condonation means a discretion to award a pass, where a pass has not been achieved by the student in that subject assessment; 1.8 Course means the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice and the Legal Practice Course and applies to both full time and part time modes; 1.9 Course Skills means all or any of the skills of Writing, Drafting, Practical Legal Research, Advocacy, and Interviewing and Advising; 1.10 Deferred or Deferral means an assessment which is taken or to be taken by a student who, but for mitigating circumstances which have been accepted by the Board of Examiners, is permitted to take the assessment as a first, second or final attempt at a later date than other students; 1.11 External Examiners means the examiners appointed by the Solicitors Regulation Authority and approved by the University; 1.12 First Available Opportunity means the first scheduled summative assessment following enrolment on the course and applies to all assessment subjects in the Core Practice Areas, Vocational Electives, WAE, PCR, Solicitors Accounts and Skills; 24

25 1.13 Mitigating Circumstances: Fit to Sit Policy means the policy for submitting mitigation as referred to in these regulations; 1.14 PCR means Professional Conduct and Regulation; 1.15 SRA means the Solicitors Regulation Authority; 1.16 Stage 1 means the part of the Course in which students are taught and assessed in each of the Core Practice Areas, WAE, PCR, Solicitors Accounts, Taxation and Course Skills; 1.17 Stage 2 means the part of the Course in which students are taught and assessed in the Vocational Electives; 1.18 "Subject Assessment" means any of the assessments set as Stage 1 and/or Stage 2 assessments; 1.19 the University means Leeds Beckett University; 1.20 the University s Academic Principles means the academic principles and general academic regulations concerned with admission to, and the assessment of students enrolled on, programmes of study leading to awards of the University; 1.21 Vocational Elective means any of the assessments set in the subjects of Commercial Law and Practice, Commercial Leases, Employment Law, Family Law, Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence and Private Acquisitions, and any other Vocational Elective(s) approved by the SRA; 25

26 1.22 Vocational Qualification means the qualification recognised by the SRA as the Legal Practice Course; 1.23 WAE means the subject of Wills and Administration of Estates. 2. ASSESSMENTS 2.1 Stage 1 requirements A student must achieve a pass in each of the following units of Stage 1 of the course: Core Practice Areas: Business Law and Practice: and Practice: Litigation: one assessment in two papers Property Law one assessment in two papers one assessment in three papers (Civil Litigation and Criminal Litigation must be taken within the same period of assessment) Each Core Practice Area assessment shall last a minimum of three hours. The pass mark for each such assessment will be 50% Core Practice Area assessments will be structured and weighted as follows: 26

27 Core practice Length of Open Weighting Overall area paper book/closed (pass/fail) Business Law Paper 1 1 book Closed book 40% 50% of overall and Practice hour marks available (BLP) Paper 2 2 hours Open book 60% Property Law Paper 1 1 Closed book 40% 50% of overall and Practice hour marks available (PLP) Paper 2 2 hours Litigation Paper 1 Open book Closed book 60% 20% 50% of overall (Civil and marks available Criminal) 1 hour Paper 2 (Civil) 2 hours Paper 3 Open book 40% (Criminal) 2 hours Open book 40% The marks for the two papers of the BLP and PLP assessments and the three papers of the Litigation shall be aggregated to derive an overall mark for each subject assessment. A minimum of 5% of marks in each Core Practice Area assessment must be allocated to Professional Conduct and Regulation. 2.2 Professional Conduct and Regulation PCR is assessed in two ways: 27

28 2.2.1 A discrete open book assessment of 2 hours duration taken at the end of Stage 1 of the course By the allocation of 5% of the marks available within each of the three Core Practice Area assessments to Professional Conduct and Regulation. These marks are not aggregated with those of the discrete assessment A student must pass the discrete assessment in order to be competent in PCR The pass mark for PCR is 50% of the available marks. 2.3 Solicitors Accounts This will be assessed by a discrete assessment lasting for two hours. Students shall be permitted to bring to the assessment a copy of the Solicitors Accounts Rules which may be annotated in advance of the assessment. The pass mark will be 50% of the available marks. Course Skills These will be assessed by a separate assessment in each of the following: Advocacy in the context of Civil Litigation Drafting in the context of BLP Interviewing and Advising in the context of WAE Practical Legal Research (free standing) Writing in the context of WAE 28

29 In each Course Skill a pass means achieving competence in that Course Skill by reference to the assessment criteria for that skill. On each assessment for each Skill a student shall be declared competent or not yet competent. 2.4 Wills and Administration of Estates This will be assessed by a one hour discrete multiple-choice assessment. The pass mark will be 50%. WAE will also be the context in which the course skills of Interviewing and Advising and Writing are assessed. 2.5 Taxation The outcomes for Taxation will be assessed in the context of Business Law and Practice, Property Law and Practice, and WAE but for the avoidance of doubt there is no discrete assessment in Taxation. 3. Stage 2 Requirements 3.1 Three Vocational Electives must be passed to achieve Stage Each Vocational Elective assessment shall last a minimum of three hours. The pass mark for each such assessment will be 50%. Vocational Length of paper Open book Weighting Overall elective Commercial Paper 1 1 hour /closed book Open book 30% (pass/fail) 50% of overall Law & Practice Paper2 2 hours Open book 70% marks available Commercial Paper 1 1 hour Open book 30% 50% of overall Leases Paper 2 2 hours Open book 70% marks available 29

30 Vocational Length of paper Open book Weighting Overall elective Employment Paper 1 1 hour /closed book Open book 30% (pass/fail) 50% of overall Paper 2 2 hours Open book 70% marks available Family law Paper 1 1 hour Open book 30% 50% of overall Personal Injury Paper 2 2 hours Paper 1 1 hour Open book Open book 70% 30% marks available 50% of overall and Clinical Paper 2 2 hours Open book 70% marks available Negligence Private Paper 1 1 hour Open book 30% 50% of overall Acquisitions Paper 2 2 hours Open book 70% marks available 4. First attempt at an assessment and defer assessments 4.1 A student s first attempt at an assessment in any of the Core Practice Areas, Vocational Electives, WAE, Skills, PCR or Solicitors Accounts should be taken at the First Available Opportunity. 4.2 If a student considers that they are not fit to sit at the First Available Opportunity in any one or more of the assessments outlined in regulation 4.1 the student must submit mitigation in accordance with the Mitigating Circumstances: Fit to Sit Policy giving a full explanation and providing evidence, including medical evidence where appropriate, as to the reasons why he/she considers they are not fit to sit the assessment. 4.3 Mitigation will be considered in accordance with the Mitigating Circumstances: Fit to Sit Policy at Regulation 9 below. 30

31 4.4 A student who successfully mitigates an assessment(s) to be taken at the First Available Opportunity will have that first attempt(s) deferred until the date of the next scheduled assessment in that subject(s). 4.5 A student will only be permitted to defer an assessment if they satisfy the requirements of the Mitigating Circumstances: Fit to Sit Policy at Regulation 9 below. 4.6 In the event that a student has mitigation accepted by the mitigation panel for a first or second (and final) attempt at an assessment the student will normally be required to take the deferred first or second (and final) attempt at the next available opportunity. 4.7 Students who fail a Subject Assessment will be given the opportunity to have feedback from tutors. Feedback will not be given to students for a Subject Assessment where the student has submitted mitigating circumstances after the assessment which have been accepted by the relevant Course mitigation panel. In these circumstances the student is deemed to have not attempted the assessment. 5. Refer assessments: General 5.1 Stage 1 Assessment Failure: A student who is deemed not yet competent or fails one or more of the Stage 1 Subject Assessments at the First Available Opportunity shall be referred in that assessment or those assessments (the first referral) A student who is deemed not yet competent or fails a first referral in one or more of the Stage 1 Subject Assessments will be referred in that assessment or those 31

32 assessments for a second and final time (the second referral). The second referral is the final referral A student who is deemed not yet competent or fails a second referral in one or more of the Stage 1 Subject Assessments shall fail Stage 1 overall: A student that has failed Stage 1 overall can re-enrol on the Course and repeat Stage 1 with attendance, subject to Regulation A student that has re-enrolled to repeat Stage 1 and who successfully completes Stage 2 in accordance with Regulation 8 Currency of Assessments and subject to successful completion of the Stage 1 will be eligible to be awarded the Vocational Qualification but will not be legible for the Academic Award For the avoidance of doubt Stage 1 assessment results cannot be carried over to the repeat Stage 1 and any fees to the University and the SRA must be paid as required. 5.2 Stage 2 assessment failure: A student who is deemed not yet competent or fails one or more of the Stage 2 Subject Assessments at the First Available Opportunity shall be referred in that assessment or those assessments (the first referral) A student who is deemed not yet competent or fails a first referral in one or more of the Stage 2 Subject Assessments will be referred in that assessment or those 32

33 assessments for a second and final time (the second referral). The second referral is the final referral A student who is deemed not yet competent or fails a second referral in one or more of the Stage 2 Subject Assessments shall fail Stage 1 overall A student who fails a Stage 2 assessment for the third and final time can either re- enrol on the Course for that particular Vocational Elective or start a different Vocational Elective, subject to Regulation 8 Currency of Assessments A student who has re-enrolled on the Course and/or taken a different Vocational Elective and who successfully completes Stage 2 in accordance with Regulation 8 Currency of Assessments and subject to successful completion of the Course will be eligible to be awarded the Vocational Qualification but will not be eligible for the Academic Award The University reserves the right to levy additional fees associated with costs of re- enrolment on an elective and / or starting a different elective. 5.3 General: Students who have failed an assessment must give notice to the University in writing of whether or not they intend to sit a refer assessment at the next available opportunity see Regulation 6 Giving Notice of Intention to Sit The timing of referrals and deferrals shall be at the discretion of the Examination Board but in any event in accordance with the usual assessment schedule of the Course. 33

34 5.3.3 The University is not required to set separate assessments for students that have not satisfied the requirements of Regulation 6 Refer assessments full time students. Students may be required to sit the nearest equivalent assessment being taken by students in the current year. This could mean that students will be examined on a different syllabus as well as on changes in the law Students may have a maximum of three attempts at any assessment If a student fails one or more of the Core Practice Area Subject Assessments, Vocational Elective Subject Assessments and/or PCR Subject Assessment then he or she will be referred in that assessment or those assessments (the first referral ) Where a percentage mark is given, marks ending in a fraction of 0.5 or more will be rounded up to the next whole number. Marks ending in a fraction of less than 0.5 will be rounded down to the next whole number. For the avoidance of doubt this applies only to the final mark and not to every component mark Where a Subject Assessment takes the form of two or more separate papers, then this represents one Subject Assessment. It is not permissible for a student to be referred in one of the papers only. A student who has failed must be referred in the Subject Assessment and take all papers again A student who has passed an assessment will not be allowed to retake the assessment in order to improve their overall mark Condonation or Compensation is not permitted for any assessment The referral schedule of assessments will be published on the University s virtual 34

35 learning environment at the start of each academic year. 6. Timing of refer assessments: full time students 6.1 Full time students will normally be required to complete all Stage 1 assessments and the course skills by the end of Stage 1 following enrolment. 6.2 Stage 1 re-assessment opportunities will be provided after the end of Stage 2 for students who have completed Stages 1 and/or 2 and have outstanding assessments in one or more Stage 1 assessments. This will enable a student to compete the LPC within one academic year. 6.3 Full time students with outstanding Stage 1 assessments following the Completion Date of the Course will have the opportunity for re-assessment in February and May/June in following academic years. 6.4 Full time students will normally be expected to have completed all Stage 1 referrals by the end of July following the Completion Date of the Course. 6.5 Full time students will normally be required to complete the Vocational Elective Subject Assessments at the end of Stage 2 following enrolment. Re-assessment opportunities for the Vocational Elective Subject Assessments will be available each September and at the end of each Stage 2 in following academic years. 6.6 Full time students will normally be expected to have successfully completed all Vocational Elective Subject Assessments referral by the end of September following the Completion Date of the Course. 35

36 7. Timing of refer assessments: part time students 7.1 In the case of the part time Course where Stages 1 and 2 are combined, Stage 1 re- assessment opportunities will be provided in the May/June of year 1 and in the February and May/June of year 2. Students will be counselled as to when to take refer assessments subject to the number of outstanding assessments a student has and the assessment timetable. 7.2 Part time students with re-assessment requirements of year 2 Stage 1 Subject Assessments will have the opportunity for re-assessment in the May/June of year 2 and in the February of the year following year Part time students will normally be required to complete the year 1 Vocational Elective Subject Assessments at the end of Stage 2 in year 1, and the year 2 Vocational Elective Subject Assessments at the end of Stage 2 in year Part time students with re-assessment requirements for Stage 1 and Stage 2 Subject Assessments following the Completion Date of the Course will have the opportunity: (i) (ii) to sit Stage 1 Subject Assessment referrals in February and May/June in following academic years; and/or to sit Stage 2 Subject Assessment referrals in May and September in following academic years Part time students will normally be expected to have successfully completed all Stage1 and Stage 2 Subject Assessment referrals by the end of September following the Completion Date of the Course. 36

37 7.3.3 Where possible, skills re-assessment points for part time students will be scheduled to coincide with the full time skills assessment points. 8. Currency of assessments 8.1 A student must pass all Subject Assessments within a five year period. The date used for determining the start of the five year period is the date on which the student attempted their first assessment, whether or not they were successful (not the date the results were confirmed or published or the date of enrolment on the course). 8.2 This requirement applies to all students, whether studying full-time, part- time or a combination of both. 9. Mitigating circumstances: Fit to sit policy 9.1 If a student attends and completes an assessment it will be presumed that there is no reason why the student should not sit the assessment at that time or why the student might subsequently submit a request for mitigating circumstances to be taken into account. This means that a student who attends and completes any assessment is presumed fit to sit the assessment and that any request for reasonable adjustments has already been submitted and considered by the University. Medical or other evidence produced afterwards will only be accepted where there is a good explanation, supported by appropriate evidence, why it was not produced before the assessment, and in accordance with regulation 9.2 below. 37

38 9.2 A student who takes an assessment and considers that their performance may have been affected by medical or other circumstances must inform the invigilator/assessor or the Course Leader during or immediately after the assessment, and submit a mitigation request within 48 hours of the assessment. Any mark given to the student s script/recording will not be disclosed to the student until the outcome of the request for mitigating circumstances is known and only if mitigating circumstances are rejected. If mitigating circumstances are accepted, the student will be allowed to defer the assessment(s) but the student will not be entitled to feedback on the assessment(s) and the mark(s) for the assessment(s) will not be released or discussed with the student. 9.3 A student who considers they are not fit to sit an assessment at the First Available Opportunity must submit mitigation giving a full explanation and providing evidence, including medical evidence where appropriate, as to the reasons why they consider they are not fit to sit the assessment(s). Mitigation should be submitted to the Course Administrator before the assessment. Mitigation will then be considered at the next mitigation panel. If the mitigation is not accepted by the mitigation panel, the student will be deemed to have failed the assessment(s). 9.4 Students will be reminded before each assessment, and each assessment will contain a reminder, that attempting the assessment will be taken as indicating that there is no reason why the student should not sit the assessment. 9.5 If a student does not sit any one or more of the Core Practice Areas, Vocational Electives, WAE, Skills, PCR or Solicitors Accounts at the First Available Opportunity and does not submit mitigation in accordance with the Mitigating Circumstances: Fit to Sit Policy the student will be deemed to have failed that assessment(s). 9.6 Condonation and compensation are not allowed and marks may never be increased in response to successful mitigation or appeal. 38

39 10. Assessment Offences 10.1 Cases of suspected Assessment Offence will be investigated according to University regulations. Where the case is proved, the Board of Examiners will exercise its discretion in relation to the seriousness of the Assessment Offence and in accordance with University regulations relating to students seeking an unfair advantage in an assessment If a student is held to have committed an Assessment Offence under the University s regulations and it is considered to have a bearing upon the character and suitability of a student to become a solicitor then this will be reported by the University to the SRA. 11. Attendance and Punctuality 11.1 If a student's attendance and punctuality record is considered by the Course Leader to be unsatisfactory, then the student may not be permitted to undertake assessments. A student's attendance record may be considered to be unsatisfactory where the student is absent from ten or more monitored sessions. A student will be notified in advance if this regulation is to be applied in his/her case. 12. Transcripts 12.1 In accordance with the requirements of the SRA each student will be provided with a transcript for each stage of the course. 39

40 The Stage 1 transcript shall include: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) percentage marks for the three Core Practice Areas indicating specific marks for Criminal and Civil Litigation and the weightings of each part of the overall litigation assessment; the percentage mark for Professional Conduct and Regulation; the percentage mark for Solicitors Accounts; the percentage mark for Wills and Administration of Estates; competent/not yet competent decisions for each of the five skills areas; for each assessment the number of the attempt on which the student was successful and the date on which the successful assessment was undertaken The Stage 2 transcript shall include: (i) (ii) percentage marks for each assessed Vocational Elective; for each such assessment the number of the attempt on which the student was successful and the date on which the successful assessment was undertaken. 13. Giving notice of intention to sit refer/defer assessments 13.1 A student wishing to attempt outstanding assessments in any academic year must give notice to the Course Administrator of his or her intention to do so. A student is deemed to give notice of their intention to sit by confirming in writing, either by or letter, when he/she intends to sit a particular assessment. Notice should be given no later than 3 weeks before the date of the defer and/or refer assessment, preferably by from the University student account. 40

41 13.2 A student that has given notice to the Course Administrator of his or her intention to attempt outstanding assessments must sit the assessment(s) unless prevented by illness or other good cause (evidence of which must be submitted to the Examination Board). A student in breach of this requirement will be deemed to have failed the assessment(s) in question Failure to give notice may mean that the student is refused entry to the assessment Once a student has given notice to the Course Administrator of his or her intention to sit a referred or deferred assessment at the next opportunity the student must attempt the assessment. A student in breach of this requirement will be deemed to have failed the assessment(s) in question A student that has given notice in accordance with this regulation and subsequently does not consider themselves fit to sit the assessment(s) should inform the Course Administrator in writing before the assessment that they no longer intend to sit that assessment. Failure to do so will mean that the student will be deemed to have failed the assessment(s) in question It is the responsibility of each student to ensure they are aware of the assessment and refer assessment timetable and have complied with the requirements of regulation Provisions for the Conferment of Final Awards 14.1 The minimum requirements for the award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice are a Pass (50% of the marks available) in the Core Practice Area Subject Assessments, three Vocational Elective Subject Assessments, the PCR 41