Course Title: Practise in a legal environment

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2020

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

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 Obtain legal documentation from appropriate source/s within appropriate timeframes

3.2 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 through various technology platforms and may include your contribution to wikis and discussion threads, reflective journals, quizzes and interactive sessions.   The collaborative classroom-based activities will include group discussions, 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 following courses are co-delivered and co-assessed:

  • JUST5751 Practise in a Legal Environment
  • MKTG 7986C Use communication to build relationships
  • JUST 5191C Prepare and produce complex legal documents 

Please refer to the Weekly Schedule and the Assignments tab for more information.

Please note that the weekly schedule is subject to change.

Course Schedule: JUST5751 Practice in a Legal Environment, JUST5191C Produce Complex Legal Documents, MKTG7986C Use Communication to Build Relationships, Semester 1, 2020

Week 

Topic

Assessments

PILE

Prepare Complex Legal Docs

Comm. Skills

Keyboarding
Speed and Accuracy

Maintain Trust Accounts

Undertake Career Planning

1

February 10

Practice Firm

 

 

 

 

2

February 17

Practice Firm

Part A - Paralegals Quiz 1.1 due February 21

 

 

  

3

February 24

Practice Firm

 

Part A- Safe Work Practices Quiz due February 28

 

 Draft Resume due February 26

4

March 2

Practice Firm

 

 

Part A Online Quiz 1 due March 6

 

5

March 9

Practice Firm

Part A- Affidavits & Stat Declarations Quiz 1.2 due March 13

Part B-Speed Test 1 due March 11

 

 

6

March 16

Practice Firm

 

Part B- Speed Test 2 due March 18

 

 

7

March 23

Practice Firm

Part A- Closing a File Quiz 1.3 due March 27

 

 

 

8

March 30

Practice Firm

Part B - File Work Assessment 2 due April 3

Part B- Speed Test 3 on due April 1

Part B - Maintain Trust Accounts Files Assessment 1 due April 3

 

9

April 6

 

Practical Placement

Thursday 1.30-5.00 pm
Practical Placement

 

 

 

 

Mid-Semester Break

10

April 20

Practical Placement

Staff Meeting

Introduce yourself to an employer (Part 1)

 

 

 

 

11

April 27

Practical Placement

Staff Meeting

Introduce yourself to an employer (Part 2)

 

 

 

 

12

May 4

Practical Placement

Staff Meeting

Dealing with difficult clients and colleagues

 

 

 

Careers Portfolio due May 8

13

May 11

Practical Placement

Staff Meeting

Time Management

Part B - Team Meeting Assessment 3 due May 15 

 

 

 

14

May 18

Practical Placement

Feedback Interviews

Part B - Practical Placement Report Assessment 3 due May 22 or seven days after completion of placement.

 

 

 

15

May 25

Practical Placement

Feedback Interviews

  

 

 

 

16

June 1

Resubmission

Resubmission

 

 

 

 

17

June 8

Grade Entry

Grade Entry

 

 

 

 

 


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

Assessment 1: Quiz 1, 2 and 3

Quiz Paralegal Quiz 1.1 - Due 21 February 2020

Affidavits and Statutory Declarations Quiz 1.2 - Due 13 March 2020

Closing a File Quiz 1.3 - Due 27 March 2020 

 

Assessment 2: File Work

Due: 3 April 2020

For this task you have been appointed as a paralegal with the RMIT Legal Practice Firm. As a paralegal you will be required to complete the necessary file work and trust accounting documentation on a number of different file matters relating to fictitious clients.

To complete the file work on the files you will be required to:
  • Initiate and maintain clients’ files
  • Communicate with clients and co-workers.
  • Consult with internal/external specialists.
  • Prepare, produce and manage legal documentation which accurately reflects the client’s needs.
  • Ensure that all correspondence and documentation meets the RMIT Legal Practice Firm policies and procedures.
  • Use advanced functions in Microsoft word.
  • Seek and incorporate appropriate feedback on the effectiveness of your communications.

 

Assessment 3: Agendas and Meetings

Due: 15 May 2020

The purpose of this assessment is to provide you with the knowledge and skills to plan execute and follow up after organisational meetings. You will prepare, conduct and follow up on two meetings for your legal team. In one meeting you will chair and the other you will transcribe the minutes.

 

Assessment 4: Practical Placement Report

Due: 22 May 2020

The aim of this assessment is to provide you with some general experience working in a legal environment. It is expected that you will be given duties normally assigned to clerical or secretarial staff which may include typing, word processing, drafting simple letters or documents, filing, answering the telephone, photocopying, delivering documents or similar duties.

Part A: Organisational Skills
  • Complete at least 120 hours or 20 days in a legal environment.
  • You are responsible for organising your host employer and ensuring that all the WIL documentation is completed in a responsible and timely manner.
  • If you are using your current employment in a legal environment the completion of WIL documentation is not required.
Part B: Practical Placement Report 
  • You are to prepare 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 attachment A for the criteria that should be supplied in the report.
  • Students who complete a placement are also required to send a letter of thanks to their respective host employers and attach the letter to the report.
  • The Host Employers evaluation should be attached to your report.

 


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix that maps all the assessment is available on Canvas.

 

Other Information

Submission Requirements

  • 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 a footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers.

 

Resubmissions (VET Programs)

If you are found to be unsuccessful (Not satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) in a Course Assessment Task 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.

 

Penalties for Late Submission 

Late submissions of assignments without special consideration or extension will automatically be considered a re-submission (see above).

 

Extensions, Special Consideration and Adjustment to Assessments

 

Extensions:

Extensions are available for unforeseen circumstances of a short-term nature.

An application form must be submitted to the school at least one working day before the due date of the assessment.

Extensions can be approved for a maximum of one week (seven calendar days) past the due date for an assessment. (Where students need an extension exceeding one week they must instead apply for special consideration.)

 

Special consideration:

Special consideration is available for unexpected circumstances outside students’ control. These include but are not limited to: unexpected short-term ill health, and unavoidable family, work, cultural or religious commitments.

An application for special consideration is made in advance of an assessment wherever possible but will normally be accepted within five working days after the assessment date

For more information, see the Special Consideration page of the RMIT website.

 

Adjustments to Assessment:

RMIT provides several adjustments to assessment for students experiencing ongoing or long-term circumstances. Find the right one for your circumstances here.

 

Changes to the Assessment Scheme

Where a change to assessment approved by the dean/head of school changes an assessment due date, students will be given at least five working days’ notice of the new due date.

 

Feedback

You can expect to receive marks and feedback on in-course assessment work in time to improve your performance in related assessment tasks later in the course.

 

Academic Integrity and Misconduct

Students demonstrate academic integrity in their assessment practices by:

  • engaging with assessment activities in an honest way;
  • providing accountability for the authorship and originality of work submitted;
  • acknowledging the work of others and the re-use of original work.

Academic misconduct is addressed in accordance with the Student conduct policy

Assessment involving research with human participants, their information or their tissue, or animal subjects is carried out in accordance with the Staff ethics and integrity policy.

For further information see the Academic Integrity website.

 

Review and Appeal

A student may request a review of an assessment result or appeal a final course grade in accordance with the Conduct of assessment and appeals section of the Assessment Processes.

 

Grade Criteria

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

The following grades are available for this course.

Vocational education grades:

CA - Competency Achieved

NYC - Not Yet Competent

DNS - Did Not Submit for assessment

 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview