Course Title: Maintain trust accounts
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2009
Course Code: BAFI5119C
Course Title: Maintain trust accounts
School: 650T TAFE Business
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6070 - Advanced Diploma of Business (Legal Practice)
Course Contact : Jenny Wotzko
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5701
Course Contact Email:jennifer.wotzko@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Nominal Hours: 50
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 covers the maintenance of trust monies related to specific files, under the instruction of a legal practitioner.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
BSALF401A Maintain trust accounts |
Element: |
Check that trust funds are adequate |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Check relevant sources for information regarding disbursements and costs |
Element: |
Draw cheque/s against the trust account |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Complete appropriate requisition form |
Element: |
Prepare documentation upon completion of legal matter |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Collate relevant information/documentation from file |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, a student should be able to demonstrate an understanding of the general operation of trust accounts, be able to control and account in both a legal and ethical manner for all trust moneys received and paid, and be able to clearly report to stakeholders how trust monies have been dealt with.
Details of Learning Activities
The classes in this course will provide opportunities for students to develop a working knowledge of Part 3.3 of the Legal Professions Act and Regulations. The primary focus will be on practical demonstrations and exercises in documenting and recording a variety of trust account transactions. In addition, there will be ample opportunity for discussion of the trust accounting systems used and problems encountered by other students working in legal offices throughout Melbourne.
Teaching Schedule
| Week | Commencing | Performance Criteria/Topic | Assessment |
| 1 | Feb 9 |
What is ‘Trust money’? What is a ‘Trust Account’ & when is it used? Office account transactions vs. trust account transactions |
Case study and Assessments explained |
| 2 | Feb 16 |
Trust money & trust account legislation.  Legal Profession Act 2004  Legal Profession Regulations 2005 |
|
| 3 | Feb 23 |
1.1-1.2Trust Account Records: a. Overview of Trust Accounting System b. Trust Account Receipts |
|
| 4 | Mar 2 |
1.1-1.2 Trust Account Records: c. As above - exercises |
|
| 5 | Mar 9 | <font face="Verdana" size="2">LABOUR DAY HOLIDAY</font> | |
| 6 | Mar 16 | QUIZ 1 | |
| 7 | Mar 23 | 1.1-1.4 Assessing the adequacy of trust account balances | |
| 8 | Mar 30 |
2.1-2.5 Trust Account Records: d. Trust Account Payments |
|
| 9 | April 6 |
2.1-2.5Trust Account Records: e. As above - exercises |
|
| April 13 | STUDENT EASTER VACATION (9th - 15th APRIL) | ||
| 10 | April 20 | QUIZ 2 | |
| 11 | April 27 |
3.1-3.3 Completion of a legal matter Reconciliations & reports |
|
| 12 | May 4 |
1.1-3.3 Completion of a legal matter Comprehensive example |
|
| 13 | May 11 | 1.1-3.3 Computerised trust accounting systems | |
| 14 | May 18 | QUIZ 3 | |
| 15 | May 25 | Completion of case studies | |
| 16 | June 1 | Completion of case studies | Case studies to be handed in at the end of class |
| 17 | June 8 | QUEENS BIRTHDAY HOLIDAY | |
| 18 | June 16 | <font face="Verdana" size="2">Return of Case Studies</font> | RETESTING |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
None |
References
Part 3.3 of the Legal Profession Act 2004 - provided on the Learning Hub |
|
Part 3.3 of the Legal Profession Regulations 2005 - provided on the Learning Hub. |
Other Resources
Notes on Recording Trust Transactions provided on the Learning Hub progressively through the semester.
Overview of Assessment
A student must demonstrate a clear understanding of all elements of the required competencies to be deemed competent. Assessment may include a variety of methods including tests, workbooks, presentations, class exercises, assignments etc. Formative feedback is provided throughout the course. This occurs by the teacher providing information to the student to inform them how they are succeeding in the course and areas that require more work to succeed. Formative feedback is not a piece of assessment that contributes to the student’s final result.
Assessment Tasks
Assessment Tasks: 3 quizzes (short tests) worth 20% each + 1 case study worth 40% of the total mark for the course.
- Quiz 1, 16th March - short answer questions + a practical exercise, covering trust account receipts (weeks 3 & 4) and the introductory material from weeks 1 & 2.
- Quiz 2, 20th April - practical exercise(s) covering the processing and recording of trust account payments (weeks 7 - 9).
- Quiz 3, 18th May - short answer questions + a practical exercise testing the trust account documentation required on completion of a legal matter (weeks 11 & 12).
- Case Study - a practical application of all elements covered by the competency.
Assessment Matrix
| Quiz 1 | Quiz 2 | Quiz 3 | Case Study | ||
| 1. BSALF401A/01 Check that trust funds are adequate |
X | X | X | ||
| 2. BSALF401A /02 Draw cheques against trust account |
X | X | |||
| 3. BSALF401A /03 Prepare documentation upon completion of legal matter |
X | X |
Course Overview: Access Course Overview