LW7121 - Criminal Professional Practice

The module will be delivered through large group sessions, small group sessions, directed learning and independent learning.

The large group sessions will be delivered to the whole group of students and will be as interactive as possible.

The small group sessions will:
- give an overview of the module area;
- prioritise learning points within a topic;
- explain, emphasise and demonstrate, with examples, substantive or procedural points within the context of given scenarios;
- focus on areas that pose particular difficulties and require further explanation or examples;
- encourage students to consider the module from a practical perspective as they will do later in pupillage;
- develop problem solving and other legal skills;
- promote intellectual inquiry;
- implement knowledge in a practical way to solve legal problems;
- develop individual presentation skills;
- develop advocacy skills;
- develop conferencing skills;
- develop written skills of drafting and opinion writing.

You will be given directed learning in advance of SPSs and will be expected to carry out independent learning to expand on materials covered in SPSs.

Experiential learning is present in the simulated practical exercises that take place in each SPS, following which you will be expected to complete self-assessment forms in order to ensure that you have taken on board the comments made by the tutor.

The University is well placed to support you in learning and research with an excellent library and teaching facilities, access to on-line legal databases and resources and appropriate software.

This module will be managed by your designated Module Tutor who will be responsible for guiding you in your engagement and learning on the module. All relevant materials and instructions will be accessible online through the module eLP site, maintained by your Module Tutor whereyou will find guidance on legal skills, assessment and self-study materials. You may communicate with your Module Tutor by email or telephone and are encouraged to make contact if you encounter any difficulties relating to any aspect of the module.

Academic support is also available through feedback directly from your tutor in small group sessions and via the eLP and from your peers. At a programme level you will be supported by the Programme Leader and Guidance Tutor who will provide pastoral support throughout the module and the programme as a whole.

The Programme Administration and Student Progress teams are responsible for the non-academic administration of the module; they will contact you throughout the duration of your module with details about assessment and other issues.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:

• Demonstrate up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the key legal and procedural rules and principles of criminal law and practice as specified by the Bar Standards Board, including an understanding of how lawyers apply legal rules in practice.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• Demonstrate good communication, case analysis and problem solving skills in the context of criminal practice; an ability to locate and make effective use of legal source materials, together with an awareness of professional conduct issues and professionalism.
• Demonstrate a high level ability to persuade orally and in writing in a criminal practice context, using cogent legal and factual analysis, developing reasoned argument supported by evidence.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

• Display a professional and responsible approach to the course, staff and other students; to observe the requirements of the Bar Standards Board

• Act in way that demonstrates an awareness of diversity and is non-discriminatory

Formative Assessment:

This module will consist of a number of workshops. These will cover and develop a variety of different skills including conferencing, advocacy, opinion writing, drafting and ethics – with a focus on advocacy. The student will be set advanced preparation prior to the workshop.

The formal formative assessments in Submission Advocacy and Conferencing will take place during the workshops. Individual feedback will be given.

Summative Assessment: The module will be assessed by two oral assessments set by the University but prescribed by the BSB.

Advocacy Examination in Chief: Examination of 15 minutes duration.

Advocacy Cross-Examination: Examination of 15 minutes duration.

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Criminal Professional Practice is a year-long module on the Bar Course and is delivered across the portfolio of Bar programmes at Northumbria University. It is designed to reflect the nature of criminal cases encountered during pupillage and early years of practice.

This module involves the study of criminal practice in the context of realistic scenarios which incorporate fact management, case analysis, legal research, advocacy, drafting, opinion writing and conference skills, linked to the relevant procedural framework and ethical considerations as in practice.
The module involves a number of different cases which raise legal and procedural scenarios of the kind that criminal practitioners regularly encounter in practice. It is designed to ensure that each student appreciates the importance of identifying legal, procedural, tactical and ethical issues when they arise. Examples of the areas you might cover are: bail applications, hearsay and bad character applications, opening and closing speeches and witness handling. You may also draft written advice on evidence and procedure, hearsay and bad character applications and give advice on grounds of appeal against sentence.

This Criminal Professional Practice module is designed to build on existing legal knowledge and allows the acquisition of the knowledge, skills and attributes necessary for practice as an effective and successful legal professional at the criminal Bar. The module is supported throughout by research rich and practice informed learning and technology enhanced learning which are crucial to current legal practice in a demanding, rapidly changing legal landscape.