About the Institute of Professional Legal Studies

Transcription

1 About the Institute of Professional Legal Studies

2 History and Background 2 The Institute of Professional Legal Studies was established in 1977 at Queen s University Belfast. It provides an internationally recognised and unique one-year postgraduate course for trainee barristers and trainee solicitors who study together. Committed to excellence since its inception, the Institute continually monitors and adjusts its performance, its courses and services to ensure its trainees receive the utmost quality. Over the years the Institute has modified the course to allow for greater and more structured integration of direct field experience. Today, the Institute s course is a central component of the overall training programme for lawyers. This programme comprises training in a vocational law school and supervised in-practice training. General Information The Institute of Professional Legal Studies is a constituent part of Queen s University Belfast. It is located a short walk from the main university building. Institute trainees enjoy all the welfare, sporting and recreational facilities provided by the university for its students. The course is non-residential and, although trainees are responsible for their own living arrangements, the university s accommodation office can help find a place to live on campus or in the private rented sector. The Council of Legal Education Although the Institute is part of the university it shares further very important links with the two bodies which control the legal profession in Northern Ireland - the Honorable Society of the Inn of Court of Northern Ireland and the Law Society of Northern Ireland. These bodies are responsible for the training and admission of barristers and solicitors respectively but have delegated part of that responsibility to the Institute. The Institute is therefore accountable to the professions as well as to the university. The cross-flow of information and discussion between the Institute and the legal profession is vital to the Institute s work and to the validation of our qualification. The links between the two professional bodies, the university and the Institute are given a formal structure and forum in the Institute s governing body, the Council of Legal Education (NI). Under the Chairmanship of Mr Justice Weir, it is made up of representatives of the university, the Inn of Court, the Law Society and the Institute. At its meetings the council ensures that the Institute is informed of the ever evolving needs and views of the profession it serves. Staff The director of the Institute is Mrs Anne Fenton LLB Solicitor. She is responsible for all overall policy matters as well as the day-to-day running of the Institute. There are eight other members of the teaching staff (three full-time and five part-time), more than 200 additional part-time tutors and five clerical assistants. All members of the teaching staff (whether full-time or part-time) are qualified and experienced members of the legal profession. Specialist practitioners with years of experience act as advisers to the major courses. They advise the Institute directly on course development. A large panel of tutors, all practising barristers or solicitors, conduct intensive practical classes as part of a team directed by the Institute staff. Please see the list of core staff at page 7.

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4 Teaching Objectives - Professional Formation Education for legal practice, whether as a barrister or a solicitor, requires training at academic and professional levels. The Institute is mainly responsible for the latter. Before embarking on the course all Institute trainees have already successfully completed the academic stage. The Institute is not, however, the beginning and end of professional training, but a component of it. Formal professional education is provided in two ways: A period of organised vocational training in an institutional setting A period of in-practice training, i.e. working in a real, professional setting under supervision. The Institute provides the first of these and the profession provides the latter. The course is designed to give trainees an understanding of the nature and role of the legal profession and to develop in them a strong sense of professionalism. A major function of the course is to draw out and develop trainees academic, intellectual and personal skills and resources, shaping and adapting them to the resolution of practical legal problems. Barristers and solicitors benefit from being educated together. This principle lies at the heart of the Institute s teaching philosophy. To a large extent, therefore, bar and solicitor trainees receive the same training during their year at the Institute. There are, nonetheless, areas of practice, knowledge and skills which bear more heavily on one branch of the profession than on the other. These are acknowledged in the Institute s teaching programme and in such areas the bar and solicitor courses are taught separately. For example, bar trainees, while requiring knowledge of land law and of basic conveyancing, do not need tuition in this field to the same extent as solicitor trainees. Consequently, all trainees study conveyancing in a basic three-week course. Solicitor trainees are provided with further in-depth training in conveyancing in two additional courses. Similarly, while most subjects are taught to both groups of trainees at the same time, they may include separate tutorials and/or practical exercises for each branch of the profession. Teaching methods Teaching methodology is varied. It is based on an intensive daily schedule quite different in structure from other postgraduate courses. Detailed instruction in basic skills, procedures and techniques of practice is provided in two ways: by lectures reinforced by written notes, precedents and examples, and by practical exercises conducted by tutors (highly experienced solicitors or barristers who are experts in their field) working with groups of trainees. The exercises simulate the real experience of practice, particularly during the early years of professional life. A programme of mock trials in which trainees can be asked to perform any role from prosecuting counsel to witness, is conducted by members of the judiciary or senior counsel, staff or tutors. These mock trials may be held in the Royal Courts of Justice or at the Laganside Court Complex. In many skills-acquiring classes, e.g. advocacy, mock trials, etc, trainee performances are videotaped, played back and critiqued. Trainees also have the opportunity to participate in a judge-shadowing programme, court induction programmes and a number of international competitions. 4

5 Subjects The following general subject headings are covered in the certificate course Practice and Procedure in: High Court, Criminal Damage, Chancery, Family Law, County Court/Consumer Law, Criminal Procedure (both summary and on indictment), European Union, Evidence, Conveyancing, Company Law & Partnership, Insolvency, Tribunals, Accounts, Enforcement of Judgements, PACE, Professional Conduct, Wills, Revenue, Administration of Estates, Licensing, Legal Aid and Human Rights. Skills Training in: Drafting, negotiation, advocacy, client care including interviewing, legal research (including computer-based research) and practice management. Institute trainees are also encouraged to take advantage of the many courses run by the university s language centre and to make full use of the university s student computer centre facilities and the Institute s IT suite. Life at the Institute From Tuesday to Friday, the day begins promptly at 9.30am with lectures and exercises often running to lunchtime. Afternoon classes run from 2.00pm until 5.00pm. On Mondays solicitor trainees spend the day in their masters offices and bar trainees take a specialist skills programme which is run in conjunction with practising barristers. This enables them to develop advocacy skills and to build on the practice-related knowledge acquired in other subjects. Bar trainees also participate in a four-week work-experience period with the Citizens Advice Bureaux. coincide exactly. Solicitor trainees are expected to spend vacation periods and Mondays in their masters offices and bar trainees should complete a period of work experience from late August to the end of September. At the Institute trainees learn by doing and for this reason attendance at all classes is compulsory and is closely monitored. The two professional bodies and the Council of Legal Education will take action against any trainee whose attendance is deemed unsatisfactory. Trainees have use of an on-site IT suite as well as drinks and snacks vending machines. They also have complete access to university facilities including libraries, student computer centres and physical education centre. For security reasons the Institute is closed in the evenings and the weekends. Applicants with disabilities The university is very willing to help any student who has a disability so we need to have information from you to enable us to do this effectively. This will not affect judgements concerning your suitability for the course and will be treated confidentially by us. It is recommended that you contact the Institute as early as possible about your disability to ensure that we can provide the support you may need. You may also wish to contact the university s disability services staff. Please see also the booklet on the application process as well as the relevant sections of the application form if you think you may need special arrangements for the Admissions Test. The Institute tries to observe university semester dates, but the Christmas, Easter and summer breaks may not always 5

6 Staff / Student Consultative Committee, Advisers of Studies Each tutorial group elects two representatives to the Staff/ Student Consultative Committee. This meets regularly and is an important forum for discussion between staff and trainees. Each trainee is assigned to a particular member of staff who will help with any problems and who will monitor trainees progress throughout the year. The director is also available to all trainees. Any apprentice or master who has a query or problem can contact her for advice and help. Examinations and assessment Finals are held at the end of almost every subject. These are generally conducted by formal written examination papers although in some subjects a trainee may also be judged by course-work or practical assessment, or a mixture of all three. In addition, an exit examination takes place at the end of December (solicitor trainees) and in the middle of June (bar trainees). This examination may cover any or all of the subjects taught. An oral element may be included in the exit examination. The pass mark for all examinations is 50%. Trainees attaining a high enough standard may also be awarded the Certificate in Professional Legal Studies with Credit or with Distinction. Re-sit examinations are held in the summer and immediately after the Easter vacation. It would therefore be extremely unwise for trainees to make holiday or other arrangements which might interfere with their ability to take a re-sit examination in August or immediately after the Easter vacation. Disciplinary proceedings Any trainee whose conduct, attendance or academic progress is deemed unsatisfactory may be referred to the Institute trainees disciplinary committee or the Institute trainees progress committee which may require a trainee to re-attend a part or all of the course or to withdraw from the Institute at any time. Trainees have a right of appeal to the university s central students appeals committee from a decision requiring them to withdraw and the decision of the appeals committee shall be final. Upon completion of the Certificate in Professional Legal Studies, marks and attendance records may be provided to the appropriate professional body and the trainee s master. All trainees are required to adhere to a code of conduct. Fees Institute fees for are 7,400. There is a nonrefundable charge of 200 as a contribution towards the cost of course materials provided to trainees throughout the year. Details about payment of fees will be sent to successful applicants at enrolment in September It is a trainee s own responsibility to make sure his or her fees are paid. Non-payment of fees can lead to suspension from the university. Members of the legal profession interested in the work of the Institute are also very welcome to drop in to see for themselves what is going on. Please note that while examinations must be passed they are only a part of the programme of professional formation. Daily attendance at class and ongoing assessment are vital. 6

7 Institute of Professional Legal Studies Staff Director Mrs Anne Fenton, LLB (QUB), Solicitor - leader of the admissions team; Senior Lecturer and Associate Director Mrs Ruth Craig, LLB (QUB), CPLS, Solicitor Senior Teaching Fellow and Associate Director Miss Fiona Donnelly, LLB (QUB), CPLS, Solicitor Senior Teaching Fellow Mrs Barbara Jemphrey, LLB (QUB), CPLS, PGCHET, Solicitor Mrs Áine Maxwell, LLB (QUB), CPLS, PGCHET, Solicitor Lecturers Mr Alan Gallagher, LLB (QUB), Barrister-at-Law Mrs Gillian McGaughey, LLB (QUB), CPLS, Barrister-at-Law Mr Martin O Brien, LLB (QUB), CPLS, LLM, Barrister-at-Law Teaching Fellow Miss Mary Traynor, LLB (QUB), Solicitor Clerical Staff: Miss Jane Boal and Mrs Pauline Rodway (Admissions Officers), Mrs Pauline Cheung (Assistant Admissions Officer), Mrs Amanda Belamine, Miss Lindsay Martin and Mrs Joan Playfair. Student Accommodation Services Queen s University Belfast Elms Village 78 Malone Road Belfast BT9 5BW Tel: / accommodation@qub.ac.uk Website: Disability Services Room G13N Lanyon North Queen s University Belfast Belfast BT7 1NN Tel: Fax: disability.office@qub.ac.uk Website: 7

8 The Institute of Professional Legal Studies 10 Lennoxvale Belfast Northern Ireland BT9 5BY T: +44 (0) F: +44 (0) W: Design: