Course Title: Practise In A Legal Environment
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2008
Course Code: LAW5109
Course Title: Practise In A Legal Environment
School: 650T TAFE Business
Campus: City Campus
Program: C6070 - Advanced Diploma of Business (Legal Practice)
Course Contact : Doug Cole
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5424
Course Contact Email:doug.cole@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Robyn Lang (Coordinator)
Telephone 9925 1565
Email: robyn.lang@rmit.edu.au
Joanne Mackay
Telephone 9925 5540
Email: joanne.mackay@rmit.edu.au
Nominal Hours: 68
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
LAW5040 Legal Process [VBM898]
LAW5041 Law of Torts [VBM894]
LAW5042 Property Law [VBM896]
LAW5043 Law of Contract [VBM895]
LAW5048 Commercial Law [VBM899]
JUST5009 Law of Evidence [VBM897]
Course Description
This module covers open client file, take instructions and provide required legislative information, consult appropriate specialist(s), obtain, prepare and manage legal documentation, maintain communication with the client and identify and apply legal ethics and practice
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
VBJ207 Practise in a Legal Environment |
Learning Outcomes
1. Open client file, take instructions and provide required legislative information.
2. Consult appropriate specialist(s).
3. Obtain, prepare and manage legal documentation.
4. Maintain communication with the client.
5. Identify and apply legal ethics and practice.
Details of Learning Activities
Students will study Practise in a Legal Environment skills and theory in class sessions and through prescribed exercises and assessment work. These concepts will also be explored through the investigation of appropriate real world and simulated environments.
Teaching Schedule
Week | Lecture | Tutorial |
Week 1 - 7 July |
Introduction- Aims of the Course File Management |
Cost Disclosure Statements |
Week 2 - 14 July | Communicating with the Client and Third Parties | Commence Civil Litigation File |
Week 3 - 21 July | Managing your day in a Legal Office / Preparing a Civil File | Commence Drink Driving File File Management to be assessed. |
Week 4 - 28 July | Trust Accounts and Office Accounts |
File Work |
Week 5 - 4 Aug | Preparing Conveyancing Documentation | Commence Conveyancing File Civil Litigation- Magistrate Complaint Due |
Week 6 - 11 Aug | Brief to Counsel | File work |
Week 7- 18 Aug | Taking and Preparing Affidavits, Statutory Declarations | Conveyancing File- Contract of Sale due |
Week 8 - 25 Aug | Preparing Bill of Costs | File Work |
1 - 5 Sept | Mid Semester Break (student vacation) | Mid Semester Break (student vacation) |
Week 9 - 8 Sept | Practical Placement | Practical Placement |
Week 10 - 15 Sept | Practical Placement | Practical Placement |
Week 11 - 22 Sept | Statement of Adjustments | Drink Driving File- Brief to Counsel due |
Week 12 - 29 Sept | Attending Settlements | Conveyancing File- Statement of Adjustments due |
Week 13- 6 Oct | Working with Interpreters | Conveyancing File-Settlement |
Week 14 - 13 Oct | TBA | Civil file- Letter advising client of enforcement options due |
Week 15- 20 Oct | Guest Speakers | Drink Driving File -Letter to Client enclosing costs due |
Week 16 -27 Oct | File Work | File Work |
Week 17 - 3 Nov | Independent Learning | File Work Files to be handed in |
Week 18 - 10 Nov | Feedback with tutors | Feedback with Tutors |
* This outline is subject to variation please check the learning hub regularly for changes.
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
There are no prescribed texts. |
References
Other Resources
R. Curnow, A Practical Students’ Guide to Working in a Legal Environment, Law Crest.
Lewis and Kyrous Handy Hints on Legal Practice (3rd ed.) Lawbook Company.2004
Legal Profession Act 2004 (Vic)
Professional Conduct and Practice Rules 2005
Legal Profession Regulations 2005
Online Resources:
Australian Legal Sites (www.dlsweb.rmit.edu.au/just5010/)
Australasian Legal Information Institute (www.austlii.edu.au)
CCH Online (www.cch.com.au)
ComLaw (www.comlaw.gov.au)
LexisNexis Butterworths Online (www.butterworthsonline.com)
Victorian Legislation and Parliamentary Documents (www.dms.dpc.vic.gov.au)
High Court of Australia (www.hcourt.gov.au)
Federal Court of Australia (www.fedcourt.gov.au)
Federal Magistrates Court (www.fms.gov.au)
Supreme Court of Victoria (www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au)
County Court of Victoria (www.countycourt.vic.gov.au)
Magistrates’ Court of Victoria (www.magistratescourt.vic.gov.au)
Overview of Assessment
Assessment will consist of assignments, a presentation and practical exercises (simulated client files).
Assessment Tasks
Assessment that learning outcomes have been achieved will be by:
1. Submission of three simulated client files 70%
Students will need to satisfactorily complete all work on files to achieve a pass.
Marks will be determined by assessment of the following:
- Magistrates’ Court Complaint
- Brief to Counsel
- Letter to client
- Statement of Adjustments and Settlement Statement
- Settlement instructions
- Contract
2. Ethics presentation and report 15%
3. Practical Placement report 15%
To pass this course, students must satisfactorily complete all assessment and have a total mark of not less than 50%.
Assessment Matrix
Learning outcome | File 1 | File 2 | File 3 | Presentation |
Open client file, take instructions and provide required legislative information | X | X | X | |
Consult appropriate specialist(s). | X | X | X | |
Obtain, prepare and manage legal documentation | X | X | X | |
Maintain communication with the client | X | X | X | |
Identify and apply legal ethics and practice | X |
Other Information
Students will require the following stationary items.
• 3 Spring Release Folders
• Stapler
• Holepunch
• Printing (you will be required to print letters/documents therefore you will need an adequate amount of print credits when you attend Thursday’s class).
Course Overview: Access Course Overview