General transferable skills: Bournemouth University

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

Strategy and target group

In developing the legal skills programme within the LLB (Hons) Business Law degree it is recognised that transferable skills are key. Since the study of law in itself requires subject specific skills we are able to identify these and build upon them to enable students to utilise a range of skills and apply them outside subject specific areas as well as within them.

Specific skills module or integration of skills?

Although skills is taught as a discrete unit in Year 1 and Year 2, the programme across both years ensures that there are horizontal and vertical links with the substantive subjects. Year 1 emphasises and underpins legal research, case analysis, writing skills, legal argument and resource management. Year 2 uses the moot as the focus for research and argument as well as document recognition.

Learning support

There is a learner support unit which contributes to the capabilities aspect of the skills programme. Funding has been received this year from Dorset TEC to provide Year 1 students with a capability programme which enables them to identify, map and monitor their progress in core skills areas.

Specific skills

• Year 1: legal research, legal argument, writing skills, resource management, analysing primary sources
• Year 2: legal research, mooting, negotiation, interviewing, document recognition

Last Modified: 30 June 2010