The module seeks to provide a study of Civil Litigation. The syllabus includes the following topics:

The main underlying features that enable an act of litigation
What pre-action steps should be considered before a claim is issued
The initial stages of proceedings
When a matter can be terminated without a trial
The track allocation system
The key steps made in the progress of a matter to trial
Offers of settlement and interim payments and remedies
Trial procedure
Orders and judgments, how they are enforced and the procedure of appealing a judgment
The civil costs regime

The learning strategy for this module is based around students committing a total of 150 hours of activities towards achieving the learning outcomes. These will be split between 9 hours of direct contact with a tutor delivered as a block at the end of the course, and 141 hours of directed, guided and self-study delivered as blended learning on BlackBoard, together with preparation for and completion of the assessment tasks.
Contact will include a mixture of small and larger group activities, much of it based on the principles of practice and problem based learning. Learning will be organised into a series of sessions where students will be required to participate. Each session will be based around a problem or issue, and students will work towards a range of solutions by specifying objectives, identifying constraints, obtaining background information, applying related theory and knowledge based around the subject matter.

Large group sessions seek to consolidate the blended learning of the main principles of Advanced Civil Litigation. They will verify and consolidate knowledge and understanding and will engage in more detailed exposition of selected theories, rules and constraints. Small group sessions will seek to practice the application and analysis of that knowledge and understanding.

The guided learning will incorporate a mixture of activities, some of which will require group work and electronic interaction. The learning will be facilitated by use of the VLE platform and discussions/interactions between students and tutors.

Students will be expected to be familiar with contemporary discussions in this area of law, and to bring a range of ideas to bear on the discussions. These part time students will all be employed in a range of legal settings which will equip them with actual practical knowledge and application of the learning that they can share in their studies. Thus, although there will be a framework of knowledge and understanding, students will be actively, rather than passively, engaged in the process of both learning about, and increasing understanding of, the subject matter, as well as applying the learning to actual employment situations which will further enhance their knowledge, understanding and application.

The module will use a blend of teaching methods to enable different styles of learning to be facilitated. The differing methods will also be a platform for the development of essential skills such as intellectual skills, communication skills and problem solving, as well as research, teamwork, negotiation, presentation, referencing, argument, judgement and appropriate use of IT.

ASSESSMENT weighted at 100%

Drafting of a document relevant to a given scenario in accordance with Civil Procedure Rules and the Relevant Pre-Action Protocol

Access to appropriate texts, legislation and case law.
Module Study Guide
Computing facilities will be needed to access material available on Blackboard and specialist on-line databases such as Lexis, Westlaw, BAILII and the Law Commission site.

CILEx manuel Civil Litigation for Level 6 Diploma in Law and Practice (current edition (updated annually)
CiLex Law School

CLP Manual – Legal Practice Guides – Civil Litigation – Browne and Catlow

1. DEMONSTRATE A KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE CIVIL LITIGATION:
Knowledge and Understanding
Learning

2. APPLY THE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF CIVIL LITIGATION IN A REAL LIFE CONTEXT:
Application
Reflection

3. EXERCISE INTELLECTUAL SKILLS TO SHOW COMPETENCY IN THE ABILITY TO ANALYSE FACTS, RULES AND CONCEPTS IN THE CONTEX OF CIVIL LITIGATION:
Analysis

4.DEMONSTRATE THE ABILITY TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS BY ANALYSIS AND THE APPLICATION OF THE PRINCIPLES OF CIVIL LITIGATION AND PRACTICE IN A REASONED AND COGENT MANNER:
Analysis
Application
Problem solving

5. DEMONSTRATE THE ABILITY TO CONDUCT EFFECTIVE RESEARCH AND TO UTILISE SUCH RESEARCH IN AN EFFECTIVE MANNER:
Enquiry

6. DEMONSTRATE AN ABILITY TO EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING AND APPLICATION OF CIVIL LITIGATION:
Communication
Application