This module will provide law students with the requisite transferable skills. The module complements module BLL50018-1 English Legal System - Block Teaching

Particular attention will be paid to:

- finding cases and statutes to the sources, paper-based and electronically
- reading cases and statutes
- developing basic research skills
- study skills; - lectures, tutorials
- reading
- note taking
- time management
- answering assignments (including the referencing of sources and the University's Regulations on plagiarism)
- essays and problems including referencing of sources
- preparing for examinations
- team-working
- use of internet and IT to support learning
- presentation skills
- basic word processing
- developing reflective learning

A lecture framework will provide the student with an introduction to selected topics. However, the emphasis will be on practical application, supported by access to electronic learning programmes, e.g. TOLIS

Small group work will therefore be utilised to promote team-working and develop key skills, e.g. library, legal research and I.T.
Whole group sessions - A framework of lectures will introduce the student to the requisite skills (12 x 1 hour sessions)
Small group workshop - The sessions will place the emphasis on active learning and practical application of the key skills, plus library and basic research skills. They will be student-centred and include group work, moots and client interviewing (12 x 2 hours)
Directed Study and Independent Learning - This will involve the development of teamworking skills as well as group and independent research (114 hours)
Development of Skills - Library research skills will be developed through a series of individual and group exercises undertaken in workshops. The focus will include not only paper based research but also use of electronic sources e.g. Westlaw, BAILLI and the Internet.

Word processing skills will be developed in workshops with students required to wordprocess their portfolios.

Study skills will be introduced through a series of lectures supported by workshops, allowing the student to reflect on any areas for improvement. Practice at referencing will be undertaken in workshops.

Introduction to mooting and interviewing skills will be by demonstration and workshop.

Total learning time 150 hours.

To pass the module, students must obtain an average mark of at least 40% in the team portfolio.

Group Portfolio: Each workshop assessment group of students will submit a portfolio of exercises which demonstrate key skills and which may draw on other Level 1 core modules.

Bradney A, Cownie F, Masson J, Newell D and Neal A, "How to Study Law", 4th ed, London, Butterworth, 2000
Northedge A, "The Good Study Guide", Milton Keynes, Open University Press, 1990
Clinch P, "Using a Law Library", 2nd ed, London, Blackstone Press, 2001
Lawrence P, "Law on the Internet: A Practical Guide", London, Sweet and Maxwell, 2000
Holland J A and Webb J S, "Learning Legal Rules", 5th ed, Oxford, Open University Press, 2003

Access to appropriate texts, legislation and case law
Module Study Guides
Computing facilities will be needed to access material available on the web and specialist on-line databases
Specialist software. TOLIS, Westlaw.