The module will cover:
- Approaches for Managing and Resolving Disputes and Conflicts
-An overview of the Civil litigation process
-Commencing a civil claim
-The Civil Procedure Rules, including Practice Directions, Forms and Court Guides
-Settlement Offers
-Common interim court applications
-Advising your client about litigation
-An introduction to funding and risk
-Skills practice – including bundle preparation, form drafting, letter writing
- The role of alternative dispute resolution in modern litigation
-Negotiation
-Mediation

1-This assessment requires students to prepare a procedurally compliant court application and accompanying digital court bundle arising from a civil litigation scenario. Students will be provided with a limited set of factual documents and must undertake targeted legal research to support an interim application made under the Civil Procedure Rules.

The task reflects professional practice in civil litigation and is designed to develop student's ability to use, evaluate, and critically reflect on digital legal tools, whilst exercising judgement in the selection, verification, and presentation of legal materials.

2- The assessment will take the form of an open-book examination in which students will draft a letter to a client who has instructed them in relation to a civil dispute. The assessment format is designed to replicate authentic legal practice, requiring students to interpret a client’s situation and provide clear, accurate and professionally structured written advice about the need to consider ADR and the potential implications of failing to do so.

Students will receive advance information allowing them to do some preliminary research and during the examination, students will have access to their lecture materials, notes and textbook. This reflects the reality of legal practice.

The delivery of the module will be via lectures and workshops as well as guided independent study.

Lectures will be designed to provide a focus and context for students. While they will be predominantly tutor led, they will also be in part interactive, with topics being explored by means of questions and answers. Attendance at lectures is compulsory and students will be expected to undertake any specified preparation beforehand.

The workshops will enable students to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the topics introduced in the lectures. As with the lectures, attendance is compulsory and preparation beforehand essential. Preparation will take the form of directed reading and independent research thus allowing the student the ability to take increasing responsibility and ownership of their own learning. Students will be expected to communicate complex legal issues effectively. In this way, students will further develop their inter-personal skills, legal research skills, legal reasoning skills, problem solving and critical analysis skills.

During the module, students will be introduced to digital forms and processes commonly used in civil practice, these will be used to consolidate student's understanding of the topics covered. Frequent opportunity will be afforded to students to practice legal skills and feedback given throughout the module.

The VLE will specify or contain the materials to be read prior to attending classes.

1. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of civil litigation and procedure.

Knowledge and understanding

2. Employ digital tools to produce compliant court documents for use in civil proceedings, demonstrating the ability to evaluate and select appropriate digital resources and legal research methods during their preparation.

Digital literacy
Research skills

3. Demonstrate how the court’s approach to alternative dispute resolution impacts the litigation process in the context of a client's legal problem.

Application and problem solving

4. Communicate complex legal concepts effectively and professionally, tailored to the audience.

Communication

As well as relevant reference texts, students will have access to a number of resources via the Library, including:

Databases
Journals

Emily Finch and Stefan Fafinski, Legal Skills (10th edn, OUP 2025)

Stuart Sime, A Practical Approach to Civil Procedure (26th edn, OUP 2024)

Susan Blake and Julie Browne and Stuart Sime, A Practical Approach to Alternative Dispute Resolution (5th edn, Oxford University Press 2023)

Jonathan Herring, Legal Ethics (3rd edn, OUP 2023)

This practice focused module will immerse you in the core principles, processes and professional skills that underpin modern dispute resolution. Blending legal knowledge with hands on technique, it equips you to navigate conflict, advise clients and operate effectively within the civil justice system.

During the module, you will be introduced to civil litigation and procedure, including the Civil Procedure Rules, Practice Directions, key forms and the essential Court Guides that shape day today legal practice. Practical topics such as settlement offers and court applications are explored through realistic scenarios that reflect the realities of professional work.

The module also provides you with an introduction to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), recognising that access to the courts increasingly depends on first considering ADR pathways. Within the module, you will examine the role of negotiation, mediation and other non-court mechanisms that continue to shape contemporary legal practice.