Course Title: Practise in a legal environment
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 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
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 |
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PILE Prepare Complex Legal Docs Comm. Skills |
Keyboarding |
Maintain Trust Accounts |
Undertake Career Planning |
1 |
5 Feb |
Practice Firm |
Legal Ethics |
Ongoing File Work assessment refer file instructions |
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Ongoing Part B Maintain Trust Account assessment refer file instructions |
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2 |
12 Feb |
Practice Firm |
Trust/Office Accounts |
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3 |
19 Feb |
Practice Firm |
Costing a File and Billing a Client |
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Part A- Safe Work Practises by 23 February 2018 |
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Draft Resume due by midnight 23 February 2018 |
4 |
26 Feb |
Practice Firm |
Finalise Conveyancing Transactions |
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Part A Online Quiz 1 due 2 March 2018 |
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5 |
5 Mar |
Practice Firm |
Monthly Reconciliations |
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Part B-Speed Test 1 on 7 March 2018 |
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6 |
12 Mar |
Practice Firm |
Entering Default Judgments and Affidavits |
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Part B- Speed Test 2 on 14 March 2018 |
Part A Online Quiz 2 due midnight 13 Mar 2018 |
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7 |
19 Mar |
Practice Firm |
Briefing a Barrister |
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8 |
26 Mar/5 Apr |
Practice Firm |
Monthly Reconciliation (under assessment conditions) |
File Work Assess due 6 April 2018 Team Meeting Assessment due 6 April 2018 |
Part B- Speed Test 3 on 28 March 2018 |
Maintain Trust Account Monthly Reconciliation Maintain Trust Accounts Files Assess due 6 April 2018 |
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9 |
9 Apr |
Practical Placement |
Staff Meeting Elevator Pitch |
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10 |
16 Apr |
Practical Placement |
Staff Meeting Elevator Pitch |
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11 |
23 Apr |
Practical Placement |
Staff Meeting Time Management |
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12 |
30 Apr |
Practical Placement |
Staff Meeting Dealing with colleagues |
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Careers Portfolio due |
13 |
7 May |
Practical Placement |
Staff Meeting Interview Techniques |
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14 |
14 May |
Practical Placement |
Feedback Interviews |
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15 |
21 May |
Practical Placement |
Feedback Interviews |
Practical Placement Report due 25 May 2018 or 7 days after completion of placement |
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16 |
28 May |
Resubmission if required |
Resubmits |
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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. 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:
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 Information: https://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:
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: | |||
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CHD |
Competent with High Distinction |
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CDI |
Competent with Distinction |
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CC |
Competent with Credit |
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CAG |
Competency Achieved – Graded |
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CA |
Competency Achieved – Not Graded |
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NYC |
Not Yet Competent |
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DNS |
Did Not Submit for assessment |
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Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview