LLB TUTOR IN COMMON LAW REASONING AND INSTITUTIONS (PART-TIME)

Transcription

1 LLB TUTOR IN COMMON LAW REASONING AND INSTITUTIONS (PART-TIME) Applications are invited for a part-time tutorial role teaching Common Law Reasoning and Institutions to students on the University of London LLB degree or Diploma in Law via the International Programmes. The successful candidate will work under the guidance of an experienced visiting academic to provide discussion-based teaching to students studying these subjects. The role also involves marking and providing feedback to students on written assignments. Teaching will take place on a fortnightly basis over a 12-week period starting in September, to groups of 8-10 students. Classes are typically timetabled mid-week, pm. Informal enquiries may be made to the Director of Studies, David Marrani (david.marrani@lawinstitute.ac.je). For further information about the appointment and how to apply, please visit our website: (under vacancies ). Closing date: on Thursday 6 th March 2014.

2 APPLICATION PACK Thank you for your interest regarding the post of part-time tutor in Common Law Reasoning and Institutions at the Institute of Law, Jersey. This application pack contains information about the Institute, a job description, a person specification, and an explanation of the procedure for applying. Introduction Applications are welcome from anybody interested in teaching this areas of English law. Prior teaching experience or a formal qualification in teaching is not essential. The role is part-time and confined to about 3 months of the year; they may therefore be particularly attractive to people seeking to combine an interesting and intellectually challenging role with an existing career, family responsibilities or retirement. A thorough and detailed knowledge of the subjects taught will be required, but as teaching does not start until October 2014, the successful candidates will have ample time to refresh their familiarity with the subject matter (which may have been studied several years ago). The University of London International Programmes expects intellectually rigorous levels of work from candidates in the examinations and this will need to be reflecting in the style and content of tutorial teaching. About the Institute The Institute was established as an education and research organisation in Its sphere of special interest is the laws of the Channel Islands ranging from Norman customary law roots to modern legislation supporting the Islands finance centre. More broadly, the Institute is interested in mixed legal systems and the challenges faced by small jurisdictions. Part of the Institute s mission is to make law more accessible to the general public and to enable talented people from all backgrounds to enter the legal profession. The Institute s two main teaching programmes are the Jersey Law Course (taken by aspiring Jersey advocates and solicitors) and for the University of London LLB and Diploma in Law (an academic qualification in its own right but also a stepping stone in qualifying for the Jersey legal profession). The Institute is a not-for-profit independent body incorporated in Jersey. The Institute is based in a well-appointed building at 1 Seale Street, St Helier, which also houses the Island s law library. LLB teaching provision The Institute is a registered centre for teaching students enrolled on the University of London LLB and Diploma in Law, via the International Programmes. The annual intake of students is drawn from Jersey and Guernsey. They are a mix of school leavers, mature students studying at degree level for the first time, and graduates in other disciplines. Teaching is provided at study weekends run by visiting academics supported by locally based tutors who lead mid-week tutorials. In total, 14 visiting academics and 8 Jersey-based tutors teach LLB students. Members of staff are listed on the Institute s website Most LLB students aspire to qualify as lawyers in Jersey and hope to go on to take the Jersey Law Examinations after they graduate. Some students study part-time, others fulltime. Page 2 of 6

3 The official syllabus for Common Law Reasoning and Institutions, which is studied in the first year of the degree programme, is as follows: (a) The nature of the common law tradition (b) Sources of law and principles of legal research (c) Conduct of legal research and retrieval of legal information, with particular reference to the use of the London online library and web based resources (d) The role and operation of courts (e) Judicial reasoning in relation to (i) cases, and (ii) statutes (f) The judiciary and magistracy (g) The criminal justice process (in outline) and the role of rights in the process with particular attention to the jury and the impact of the Human Rights Act. (h) The civil justice process (in outline) with particular attention to reform (i) Legal services and access to justice with particular attention to the legal profession and legal aid. A student is required to use the online library, complete the online legal research exercises, and write a short research essay on one of the approved titles for the academic year in which they sit the examination. The approved essay titles will be placed on the VLE. The research essay must be submitted electronically via the VLE by 1 May in the academic year in which the course is being taken. The assessment of this course by an unseen written paper will consist of two parts, with the first part (Part A) being a compulsory question on legal research. A student must pay close attention to the relevant chapters in the subject guide, study pack and the learning objectives therein. The compulsory question may contain short questions based on the exercises on legal research, citation of legal information, and library use as well as more substantial questions on the research essay that a student is required to complete. Format of teaching Teaching must relate closely to the University of London LLB syllabus for each subject and prepare students for the examinations. In so doing, we expect students to acquire a rounded understanding of the subject at an appropriate undergraduate level. The University of London International Programmes provides a study guide for each subject, which is expected to be the point of departure for students learning. Fulltime students take four subjects a year. Teaching at the Institute is delivered in short fat format, with two subjects taught in the first 12-week semester (late September to Christmas) and a further two in the second 12-week semester (January to Easter). Experienced academics run fortnightly study weekends for a subject. The roles being advertised are to run mid-week tutorials on a fortnightly basis to support students learning at the study weekends. A typical activity is discussing approaches to answering past exam questions. In each subject, there are likely to be two groups of approximately 8-10 students. Tutorials last an hour. Over the course of a term, there is likely to be 12 hours of teaching for each subject. Students will submit written work, which will be marked by the mid-week tutors with oversight from the experienced academic. Provision of feedback on written work is an important part of the roles. Tutors will be required to use a virtual learning environment to communicate with students. Location of teaching Teaching will take place at the Institute s premises at 1 Seale Street, St Helier, Jersey. Travel and accommodation costs are not covered, so the role is suitable only for somebody who is an Island resident. Page 3 of 6

4 Timing The tutor for each subject will come into Law House to deliver tutorials on six days during the period October to December. Classes are timetabled for the late afternoon/early evening, typically pm on Wednesdays. The tutor is likely to need to spend several hours preparing for each class. Students will submit written work to be marked on a date to be agreed in November or December; feedback should be provided to them within 2 weeks. Remuneration The overall remuneration package will be approximately 1,080 a year. This is based on an hourly rate of 50 for tutorial classes ( 600) plus 30 for marking each piece of written work (approximately 480, assuming 16 students). Other matters The Institute s constitution provides that there shall be no discrimination on the grounds of any person s origin, belief, gender, disability or sexual orientation such as to prevent him or her working or studying at the Institute. The law of Jersey will govern the contractual relationship between the Institute and the teachers appointed to these posts. Page 4 of 6

5 Job description and person description: CLRI Post title Responsible to Working with Tutor in LLB Common Law Reasoning and Institutions (part-time) Director of Studies The visiting academic leading study weekends in this subject The manager/librarian and assistant manager/librarian Role To provide academic support to students sitting the LLB examination in Common Law Reasoning and Institutions (CLRI) set by the University of London International Programmes Areas of responsibility Under guidance from the Director of Studies and the visiting academic, plan and deliver tutorials to groups of LLB students Under guidance from the Director of Studies and the visiting academic, provide students with feedback on written work Use the Institute s virtual learning environment to communicate with students outside tutorials. Person description E = an essential criterion D = a desirable criterion Criterion E D LLB law degree or graduate diploma in law (CPE) Professional legal qualification Enthusiasm for teaching legal methods Knowledge of use of online legal databases e.g. Lexis and Westlaw Ability to communicate complex information clearly Ability to understanding the learning needs of LLB students Experience of delivering teaching or training or providing academic support Page 5 of 6

6 Application procedure Should you wish to apply for the post, please send a CV that includes the following by (in Word or PDF): 1. Full name, address and contact details 2. Academic and professional qualifications in law including institutions and dates 3. Career history 4. Teaching experience (if any). Please also: 5. State clearly which post you are applying for or if you would like to be considered for each posts 6. Disclose any criminal convictions or cautions or disciplinary findings by professional bodies or institutions of higher education 7. The names and contact details of two referees. One reference may be taken up as part of the short-listing process, so please indicate whom we may approach. In a statement no longer than one side of A4 paper 8. Explain why you are interested in the post(s) and how your experience equips you to fulfil the role. There is no application form. Applicants should apply by with the subject line LLB tutor post to the Institute s manager by on Thursday 6 th March address: manager@lawinstitute.ac.je Informal enquiries may be made to the current Director of Studies, David Marrani (david.marrani@lawinstitute.ac.je). Page 6 of 6