Developing legal skills through simulation on the Legal Practice Course Rachel Wood
Postgraduate diploma in law Bridge between law degree and training to be a solicitor in practice Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority
SIMulations in Transactional Activities Law already using in Legal Process module for LLB TEL group grant to adapt for LPC
Learning aims - development of legal skills and commercial awareness Safe space for mistakes to happen BUT also a potential showcase of talent to practising professionals - chance to develop relationships in the legal community
2 case studies Running over 2-3 weeks Each involving 2 “firms” of students plus staff in supervisory roles Clients played by staff and students
Not the technology! Construction of appropriate time limited case studies Co-ordination of different participants (all with different “scripts”) Designing in appropriate roles for external solicitors
Next run begins on 1 st May New ADR case study which develops mediation skills More students and solicitors involved
Gathered by questionnaire and also orally at a review meeting attended by all participants Positive! Students described the simulations as an “excellent” learning tool (even if they “got drowned” in their case study) Solicitors enjoyed the experience and praised the realism and variety of skills tested – good for building CVs/ examples for training contract interviews