Course Title: Practise in a legal environment

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2018

Course Code: JUST5751

Course Title: Practise in a legal environment

School: 650T Vocational Business Education

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6141 - Advanced Diploma of Legal Practice

Course Contact: Callie harvey

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5772

Course Contact Email: callie.harvey@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Robyn Lang

robyn.lang@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 70

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to support the work of a legal office, practice or associated context, by operating according to legislative protocols and organisational policies and procedures in order to: initiate client files; take instructions and provide required legislative information; consult with internal/external specialist/s, and prepare, develop and manage legal documents to ensure that all necessary information is obtained and that documentation accurately reflects the clients’ needs.

This unit supports the work of personnel engaged in the operation of a legal office or associated fields within public and/or corporate sectors.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VU21642 Practise in a legal environment

Element:

1.Open client file, take instructions and provide required legislative information

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Determine risk acceptance criteria and establish acceptable risk levels based on evaluation of exposure for area of legal interest 1.2 Open and prepare the client file, based on relevant enterprise and legislative requirements 1.3 Take client instructions and record them accurately 1.4 Establish and record essential details to meet legislative requirements and risk acceptance criteria 1.5 Provide client with accurate legislative information as instructed by the enterprise and answer client questions accurately, completely and in language appropriate to the client

Element:

2.Consult appropriate specialist/s

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Identify and consult with appropriate specialist/s in a timely manner and according to appropriate protocol 2.2 Provide to, and obtain from, complete and accurate information specialist/s as required 2.3 Follow-up and complete appropriate action/s, resulting from consultation with the specialist/s

Element:

3.Obtain, prepare and manage legal documentation on the instructions and under the supervision of a solicitor or barrister

Performance Criteria:

3.1 3.2 Obtain legal documentation from appropriate source/s within appropriate timeframes Prepare and check legal documentation in accordance with statutory requirements, legal and organisational specifications and format 3.3 Undertake management of legal documentation according to legal and organisational timeframes and guidelines 3.4 Upon completion of the project, file and store legal documentation according to legal and organisational requirements

Element:

4.Maintain communication with the client

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Inform the client on the progress of the file at appropriate and regular intervals 4.2 Consult the client on decision-making matters and/or legislative requirements when required 4.3 Check the database to ensure that there is no conflict with the existing client and inform the client of the consequences and procedures should conflict arise

Element:

5.Identify and apply legal ethics and practice

Performance Criteria:

5.1 identify and describe the main duties of legal practitioners and others employed in the legal profession 5.2 Identify legislative and other sources of information on legal ethics and practice and assess for application 5.3 Identify potential ethical conflicts, including conflicts of interest between clients 5.4 When required, report complete and appropriate responses to ethical conflicts and review them according to legislative and organisational requirements 5.5 Identify and discuss confidentiality requirements in the legal profession


Learning Outcomes



 


Details of Learning Activities

A range of learning activities are planned for this course including self-paced and collaborative classroom based activities.

 

The self-paced activities will be delivered thought various technology platforms and include your contribution to wikis and discussion threads, reflective journals, quizzes and interactive sessions.

 

The collaborative classroom based activities will include group discussion, group problem solving activities and opportunities to practice your skills in a simulated/real workplace environment.

We expect you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities.


Teaching Schedule

This course is one of six (6) courses comprising the “Working in a Legal Environment” (WiLE) segment of this program, the details of which are as follows:

 JUST5751

 Practise in a Legal Environment (PILE)

 EMPL7103C

 Undertake Career Planning

 MKTG7986C

 Use Communication to Build Relationships

 OFFC5196C

 Develop Keyboarding Speed and Accuracy

 JUST5191C

 Produce Complex Legal Documents

 BAFI5204C

 Establish and Maintain a Trust Account


The courses are co-delivered. JUST5751 Practise in a Legal Environment, MKTG 7986C Use communication to build relationships  and JUST 5191C Prepare and produce complex legal documents are also co-assessed. Please refer to the Weekly Schedule and the Assignments tab for more information. (Please note that the weekly schedule is subject to change).

 

Week 

Topic

Tutorial (Thurs)

Assessment

 

 

 

 

PILE

Prepare Complex Legal Docs

Comm. Skills

Keyboarding
Speed and Accuracy

Maintain Trust Accounts

Undertake Career Planning

1

2 July

Practice Firm

Legal Ethics

Part B (Ongoing)-File Work assessment refer file instructions

 

Part B-(Ongoing) Maintain Trust Accounts assessment refer file instructions

 

2

9 July

Practice Firm

Trust/Office Accounts

 Part A-Quiz 1 13 July

 

 

 

3

16 July

Practice Firm

Costing a File and Billing a Client

 

Part A- Safe Work Practices Quiz by 20 July  2018

 

Draft Resume due by midnight 20 July 2018

4

23 July

Practice Firm

Finalise Conveyancing Transactions

 

 

Part A Online Quiz 1 due 27 July 2018

 

5

30 July

Practice Firm

Monthly Reconciliations

Part A-Quiz 2 3 August

Part B-Speed Test 1 on 1 August 2018

 

 

6

6 August

Practice Firm

Entering Default Judgments and Affidavits

 

Part B- Speed Test 2 on 8 August  2018

Part A Online Quiz 2 due 10 August 2018

 

7

13 Aug

Practice Firm

Court Run

Part A-Quiz 3 17 August

 

 

 

8

20 Aug

Practice Firm

Monthly Reconciliation (under assessment conditions)

File Work  Assess due 24 August 2018

Part B- Speed Test 3 on 22 August 2018

Maintain Trust Account Monthly Reconciliation
Statement due
23 August 2018

Maintain Trust Accounts Files  Assess due 24 August 2018

 

Mid Semester Break 27 - 31 August (inclusive)

9

3 Sept

Practical Placement

Staff Meeting

Elevator Pitch

 

 

 

 

10

10 Sept

Practical Placement

Staff Meeting

Elevator Pitch

 

 

 

 

11

17 Sept

Practical Placement

Staff Meeting

Time Management

 

 

 

 

12

24 Sept

Practical Placement

Staff Meeting

Dealing with Difficult Clients and Colleagues

 

 

 

 

13

1 Oct

Practical Placement

Staff Meeting

Interview Techniques

Team Meeting Assessment due 5 October 2018

 

 

Careers Portfolio due
5 October 2018

14

8 Oct

Practical Placement

Feedback Interviews

 Practical Placement Report due 12 October 2018 or 7 days after completion of placement

 

 

 

15

15 Oct

Practical Placement

Feedback Interviews

 

 

 

 

16

22 Oct

Resubmission if required

Resubmits

 

 

 

 


The nominal hours associated with this are a guide only and represent the total teaching time and student effort required to successfully complete this course.  This may include not only scheduled classes but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

 


Overview of Assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

In order to demonstrate competency in this unit, you must provide evidence of:

• taking instructions to open a client file and provide legislative information
• maintaining a client file according to instruction and applying relevant organisational technology and procedures to produce, file, store, and retrieve legal documents
• consulting with appropriate specialist/s to obtain information and complete documentation necessary to meet and reflect a client’s needs
• knowledge of the theory and practice related to the areas of Law of Torts, Contract Law, Evidence and Legal Processes and/or other areas of legal ethics
• knowledge of and the application of relevant organisational technology to produce legal documents, and file management systems to store and retrieve files
• knowledge of professional code of conduct in the legal industry

Context for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

• activities are related to a legal practice context
• activities are related to laws, regulations and procedures currently operating across the jurisdictions relevant to this qualification
• activities and assessments will be undertaken on the basis that only Australian Legal Practitioners (Solicitors/Barristers) may engage in legal practice (which includes providing legal advice and services and doing legal work); and that others must work on the instructions and under the supervision of an Australian Legal Practitioner

You are advised that you are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate your assessment work to your teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.


Feedback

Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions. You are encouraged to ask and answer questions during class time and online sessions so that you can obtain feedback on your understanding of the concepts and issues being discussed.

You should take note of all feedback received and use this information to improve your learning effectiveness and final performance in the course.

Finally, you can email or arrange an appointment with your teacher to gain more feedback on your progress.


Assessment Tasks

Course

Assessments

JUST5751 Practise in a Legal Environment

MKTG 7986C Use communication to build relationships

JUST 5191C Prepare and produce complex legal documents

Assessment Task 1- File Work 

This assessment requires you to prepare and produce accurate legal documentation on fictitious clients’ files, use appropriate forms of communications between clients, third parties and co-workers, use advanced functions in Microsoft word and demonstrate an understanding of legal ethics in running a client file by completing online quizzes. Refer to the Assessment document for full details including rubric.

Assessment Task 2- Team Meetings 

This assessment requires you to prepare an agenda and chair a team meeting, participate in team projects and prepare detailed and accurate minutes. Refer to the Assessment document for full details including rubric.

Assessment Task 3- Practical Placement Report 

This assessment requires you to undertake a 20-day practical placement and provide a written report of approximately 1,000 words detailing your experiences during WIL and 500 word reflective observations of what you learned and what value you gained from the placement both personally and professionally. Refer to the Assessment document for full details including rubric.

 

To be deemed competent you must successfully complete all assessments.

NOTE:  Details about specific tasks and assessment criteria will be included in each of the Assessment tasks documents listed in CANVAS (Learning Management System) under Assessments heading.


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix that maps all the assessment is available on CANVAS 

Other Information

Submission Requirements

 

You should:

 

  • Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date. 
  • Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy)
  • When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use the Assessment task document that includes a declaration and statement of authorship.
  • Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers.

Late Submission Procedures

You are required to submit assessment items and/or ensure performance based assessment is completed by the due dates.

If you are prevented from submitting an assessment item on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply in advance to your teacher for an extension to the due date of up to seven calendar days.

More Informationhttps://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/extensions-of-time-for-submission-of-assessable-work

Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for Special Consideration.  Applications for special consideration must be submitted no later than two working days after the assessment task deadline or scheduled examination.

More Information:https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/special-consideration

Resubmissions (VET Programs):

If you are found to be unsuccessful in a particular Course Assessment Task (or you do not submit/attend) you will be allowed one resubmission.  Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the resubmission. 

If you are still not meeting the assessment requirements you must apply to your Program Manager in writing outlining the steps you will take to demonstrate competence in your course. Your submission will be considered by the Program Team and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.

Grading & re-submissions

Successful re-submissions will contribute a CAG only (Competency Achieved Grading) result to your overall grade for the course.

Adjustments to Assessment

In certain circumstances students may be eligible for an assessment adjustment. For more information about the circumstances under which the assessment arrangements might be granted please access the following website:

https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/adjustments-to-assessment

 

Marking Guide (Competency):

 

You must demonstrate that you have all the required skills/knowledge/elements in the unit of competency you are studying.

 

You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you about your progress and how well you are performing.

 

 

Marking Guide (Grading)

 

After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit and you will achieve one of the following grades:

 

Final Grades table:

 

 

CHD

Competent with High Distinction

 

 

CDI

Competent with Distinction

 

 

CC

Competent with Credit

 

 

CAG

Competency Achieved – Graded

 

 

CA

Competency Achieved – Not Graded

 

 

NYC

Not Yet Competent

 

 

DNS

Did Not Submit for assessment

 

       

 

 

Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.


 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview