LW3WPP-Writing Credit Pro Bono and Professional Practice

Module Provider: School of Law
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded: LW3DUG Dissertation or LW3ILM International Law Mooting or LW3RWC Research Writing Credit
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Dr Rachel Horton
Email: r.e.horton@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

The module provides a formal setting for students who chose to undertake work in an approved pro bono organisation or professional setting. It allows students to develop their practical legal skills. It also allows the Law School to evaluate the contribution the student has made to the organisation concerned.

Aims:
The module provides a formal setting for students who chose to undertake work in an approved pro bono organisation or professional setting. It allows students to develop their practical legal skills. It also allows the Law School to evaluate the contribution the student has made to the organisation concerned.

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of this module it is expected that students will have:
•demonstrated and reflected on their ability to use the legal knowledge and/or legal and practical skills in a range of activities,
•provided regular practical assistance to the organisation concerned over a period of at least 6 months during their final year or by way of an approved internship during the summer vacation preceding their final year,
•critically assessed the purpose and structure of the organisation concerned and its role in relation to the provision of or need for legal services
•reflected on their experiences and evaluated how the work they did fits into the work that the organisation was set up to do and how it fits into the legal system or, for a placement, evaluated how the work they did fits into the work of the firm and the challenges facing the legal professions

Additional outcomes:
The module aims to facilitate the development of team working and oral communication skills. Students will develop an awareness of the role of the organisation concerned in the context of the legal system.

Outline content:

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
In the Summer term prior to the final year:
•The student should discuss with the Module Convenor the organisation in which he or she wants to work, and provide the Module Convenor with details of what he or she proposes to undertake as the pro bono project.
•The organisation concerned must confirm that there are opportunities for the student to be involved in pro bono or professional placement work during the summer vacation (in the case of a vacation internship) or over the next 6 -9 months, and that it will provide a short report on the training and/or work undertaken by the student.
•The Module Convenor must give approval for the pro bono activity planned, and its suitability for Pro Bono and Professional Practice Writing Credit.
•The Module Convenor will discuss and agree with the student the level of commitment to the organisation required by the student.
•A Supervisor in the School of Law will be agreed, who may be someone other than the Module C onvenor.

The student will:
•Keep a reflective diary of the training and work done for the organisation concerned, and provide the Supervisor with written interim reports on this in November and January of the final year (or in October of the final year in the case of an internship completed in the summer vacation).
•Prepare and write a portfolio in accordance with the Pro Bono and Professional Practice Writing Credit Handbook issued to all students undertaking this mo dule.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Seminars	2
Project Supervision	1	1
Placement	75
Guided independent study:	60	61
Total hours by term	138	62
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Portfolio	100

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
•A portfolio formatted in accordance with the Assessed Work rules to be found in the current edition of the School Guide (Programme Assessment). The content and length of the portfolio as specified in the Pro Bono and Professional Practice Writing Credit Handbook.
•The portfolio to be submitted by noon on the first Thursday of the Summer term in the final year.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/cqsd-old-site-documents/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:
40%

Reassessment arrangements:
Resubmission of the portfolio. See School Guide (Programme Assessment).

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

1) Required text books: 

2) Specialist equipment or materials: 

3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear: 

4) Printing and binding: 

5) Computers and devices with a particular specification: 

6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence: 

Last updated: 30 March 2023