Course Title: Prepare and produce complex legal documents

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2008

Course Code: JUST5129C

Course Title: Prepare and produce complex legal documents

School: 650T TAFE Business

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6070 - Advanced Diploma of Business (Legal Practice)

Course Contact : Janet McDonald

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5134

Course Contact Email:janet.mcdonald@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 80

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 using a range of advanced functions within MS Word to produce complex legal documents.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

BSALPP401A Prepare and produce complex legal documents

Element:

Develop precedents and macros for document design.

Performance Criteria:

Precedents and macros are developed and used to ensure consistency of design and layout.
Templates and macros are evaluated and amended to ensure document requirements can be met. 
Macros are linked as required. 
Improvements to the structure/design of existing documents are suggested and a review process of suggested improvements is facilitated.

Element:

Establish document design and structure.

Performance Criteria:

Requirements of the task are identified. 
Software appropriate to the task is selected. 
Document design and structure are determined 
Document is designed and structured to meet designated criteria. 
Existing precedent documents are reviewed for appropriateness. 
Can build new precedents from existing documents.

Element:

Organise self or others to print documents.

Performance Criteria:

Documents are printed as required. 
Review of documents is arranged with the designated person/section. 
Final printing of document is undertaken.

Element:

Organise self or others to produce documents

Performance Criteria:

Documents are prepared using appropriate and available precedent documents according to a firm’s policies and procedures.
Relevant data is entered and edited accurately.
A range of advanced functions are used to ensure the accurate completion of the task.
Documents are checked for spelling, grammar, numeric data and layout.
Documents are proofread for accuracy of contents and consistency of layout and style.
Modifications are made to meet required specifications.

Element:

Save file and exit system.

Performance Criteria:

Document is saved and stored in appropriate directory or folder. 
File is closed and applications programs are exited without loss of data. 
Back up copies of files are made in accordance with specified procedures if required. 
Disks/data are filed and stored in accordance with a firm’s policies and procedures.

Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

Learning activities will include class-based discussions and exercises in class and online


Teaching Schedule

Week Beginning  Content  Requirements
Week 1 - 11 Feb

 Course Guide & required text

 Topic A - D from text

  
Week 2 - 18 Feb

 Appendix I - V of text

 Topic 1 Working with styles

  Text
Week 3 - 25 Feb

 Topic 1 Workplace scenario 1 & 2

 Topic 2 Working with templates & Workplace scenario 3 & 4

  Online
Week 4 - 3 Mar

 Topic 3 Automating templates (Fill-in fields) & Workplace scenario 5 & 6

  Text
Week 5 - 10 Mar  Assessment  Text & printing credits
Week 6 - 17 Mar  Topic 4 Extending your table skills & Workplace scenario 7 & 8  Online
Mid Semester Break (Student Vacation) - 20 to 26 March    
Week 7 - 31 Mar  Topic 5 Creating newsletter layouts & Workplace scenario 9  Online
Week 8 - 7 April  Topic 6 Working with long documents & Workplace scenario 10 & 11  Text
Week 9 - 14 April  Topic 7 Complex mail merge  Text
Week 10 - 21 April  Topic 7 Workplace scenario 12  Online
Week 11 - 28 April  Assessment  Text & printing credits
Week 12 - 5 May  Topic 8 Automating repetitive tasks & Workplace scenario 13  Text
Week 13 - 12 May  Topic 9 Designing formss & Workplace scenario 14 & 15  Text
Week 14 - 19 May  Assessment  Text & printing credits
Week 15 - 26 May  Review for final assessment  
Week 16 - 2 June  Final assessment  Text & printing credits
Week 17 - 9 June  Practical Placement  
Week 18 - 16 June  Practical Placement  


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

The Tilde Group, Be Competent in Complex Legal Documents Word 2003

0734606834

References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Students will complete a portfolio of evidence which includes business documents created throughout the program and a final exam.


Assessment Tasks

Students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of a particular competency to be deemed competent.

Students will complete, individually, a portfolio of douments in class worth a total of 50% and a final exam in  Week 16 worth 50%.


Assessment Matrix

Element of competency Portfolio 50% Exam
Establish document design and structure Yes Yes
Develop precedents and macros for document design Yes Yes
Organise self or others to produce documents Yes Yes
Organise self or others to print documents Yes Yes
Save file and exit system Yes Yes

Other Information

It is expected that each student will devote an equivalent amount of time to private study to competently cope with the course material.

Students will be producing documents throughout the semester which they will use in the Practice Firm and LAW5109 Practice in a Legal Environment (PILE) in second semester.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview