General transferable skills: University of Birmingham

(Transcript of a section of the General transferable skills report, 1998)

Strategy and target group (academic stage)

Many skills necessary to proceed through the degree are beneficial for many other careers such as the ability to read, think and argue. When developing students’ skills we bear in mind that professional skills such as drafting, client communications, interviewing and negotiation are taught on the LPC programme and we do not therefore attempt to teach these professional skills. When developing students skills we pay close attention to the skills learnt on the LPC programme, which is franchised to run on our campus. Therefore we look for some kind of progression in students learning their skills from the LLB to LPC.

Specific skills module or integration of skills?

There is a compulsory legal methods course which introduces students to the legal system. The skills learned on this course are reinforced throughout the specific substantive law courses, particularly in small group teaching.

Learning support

During the first two years especially students are provided with detailed feedback on written work. Such written work is designed to develop students’ legal research and legal writing and problem solving capabilities.

Specific skills

Presentations, problem-solving, research and communication skills are developed through presenting research projects carried out in the first year.

In the second year students are required to undertake a legal writing project which is assessed as a stand alone module. It requires students to complete a 6000 word research essay and develops skills learnt through the first year. This culminates in the final year optional dissertation.

Throughout the courses there are opportunities for students to undertake research essays as part of their assessment. A significant number of final year options are assessed or partly assessed through substantial essays. There is a good deal of choice provided for students as regards methods of assessment.

Throughout the LLB there are opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate their research and writing skills as part of the assessment. There are also some (but fewer) opportunities for students to be assessed on their ability to give presentations and lead seminars.

Student are also able to participate, voluntarily, in the student law clinic, thereby developing their professional skills in a legal environment.

Last Modified: 30 June 2010