General transferable skills: Southampton Institute

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

Strategy and target group (academic)

The approach is integrative, in that skills should not be divorced from teaching of substantive knowledge. There is recognition that students enter a variety of profession on graduation; police, accountancy, local government and general management.

Through a number of third year options such as police governance, and child law students are able to see law in context and appreciate the different perspectives of different professions who work together. For example in child law students are required in a case study on a child care decision to look at the differing perspectives of the participants in that decision.

Specific skills module or integration of skills?

Skills are integrated within the course, but some units, particularly in the first year, do act as the vehicle for the development of particular skills. Public law develops debating skills, skills of written analysis are developed in legal systems and method, and the legal research unit requires group work and the production of a video presentation. When units are validated consideration is given both to the substantive content and the skills element of the proposed unit.

Learning support

Various activities are in place. A number of study skills exercises are carried out in the induction week. All first year LLB students are now involved in a self assessment project, which aims to focus on, and support their learning.

The institute has a peer support scheme in which a number of second year students offer to buddy those first year students who wish to be part of the scheme. Second year students participating are encouraged to consider the opportunities given to them for personal development.

For more serious learning difficulties there is an institute wide student support service.

Specific skills

Students are given a number of opportunities to extend their skills development throughout the degree. There is voluntary mooting and students are coached and entered into national competitions in client interviewing, mooting and negotiating.

The institute has excellent IT facilities and students are encouraged to use these as a source of research material. Basic training is given within the degree, but the institute offers a number of opportunities to develop this further.

An optional third year unit in interviewing and negotiating builds on the substantive knowledge gained by the students and develops skills of communication, analysis and presentation. Students find this unit helpful in making the transition to the professional stage of legal education.

Last Modified: 30 June 2010