Teaching legal system

Anthony Bradney and Fiona Cownie

NCLE teaching and learning manual

This manual, published in 1999 by the National Centre for Legal Education, is now out of print, but you may download the full text at the bottom of the page.

Teaching legal system looks at the teaching issues and problems that surround teaching English legal system type courses. It looks at questions such as what should be taught, what methods of teaching are appropriate, what materials can be used and how courses can be examined.

The manual is about teaching English legal system, and refers not just to material about the English legal system but also to material about teaching in higher education. A comprehensive bibliography is included.

Chapter 1: what should be taught? Service teaching, course length, modularisation, the purpose of the course, student preferences, the approach to be taken, the content of the course.

Chapter 2: small group teaching. Group size, physical environment, planning content, teaching style, starting out, questioning, tactics of questioning, listening, responding, techniques for use with small groups.

Chapter 3: lecturing in legal system or legal method. Purpose, structure, interest, preparation, delivering the lecture, audio-visual materials, handouts.

Chapter 4: assessment. The importance of assessment, simulative and formative assessments, designing assessments, assessing outcomes by appropriate methods, alternative means of assessment, assessing essays, using problem questions, using examinations, multiple choice questions (MCQs), assessing oral communication skills, peer assessments, self assessment, learning logs, diaries and journals, staff/student resources, designing and using marking criteria.

Chapter 5: independent learning and using ICT. Independent learning, information technology, CAL programs.

Last Modified: 4 June 2010