Reflective diaries on the Bar Vocational Course

Case study by Joanne Lewthwaite (Manchester Metropolitan University) illustrating how reflective diaries have been used as part of the conference skills course on the Bar Vocational Course at MMU.

Aims

To introduce the concept of the reflective practitioner. To help students reflect on all aspects of their performance, appreciating what was good and bad, and to look forward to what they can do next time to improve their performance.

Requirements and evidence

Each student is given a diary at the start of the course. The diaries consist of separate pages containing questions related to the learning outcomes for the particular session, which provide a focus for the process of reflection. Students must complete a page after each small group session and also after the first whole group session.

To be completed after the whole group session (WGS):

1. Do you understand what is meant by a conference in the context of the work of the Bar?
2. When does a conference take place?
3. Having attended the WGS and viewed the video Do I have to talk to the client? do you feel that you have a greater understanding of the process of a conference?
4. What for you were the most important points raised in the WGS?
5. What did you see as your personal strengths that will assist you in conducting a conference?
6. Are there aspects of the skill that you feel may cause difficulty?

To be completed after the first small group session:

1. Make a note of the feedback provided by your tutor.
2. Make a note of the feedback provided by your peers.
3. Do you feel that your preparation was adequate?
4. Identify the best aspects of your conference.
5. Do you feel that you established a good rapport with the client?
6. Did the client understand the advice given in the conference?
7. Were you able to obtain sufficient information to advise fully?
8. Consider your feelings when you role-played as the client for one of your peers. What can you take from this experience to assist you in developing your own skills in this area?
9. What aspects of the your performance do you wish to focus on in the next small group session?

After the final small group session students are asked to review all the feedback they have received over the conference skills course, to look for any recurring themes that will require attention and to review their strengths in conference skills so that they can approach the final assessment better prepared.

Assessment

The diary is not formally assessed.

Observations and recommendations

Completing the diaries:

Promotes an holistic approach – the teachers noticed that students tend to focus on one specific comment rather than considering the complete picture, which the diary approach aims to promote. The section on looking back at feedback was included to encourage students to use the full range of feedback for their future learning.

Encourages contextual awareness – the question about role playing is helpful, as it encourages students to appreciate that barristers do not operate in isolation and that their actions have consequences for the other party involved.

Is aided by a staggered approach – reflection seems to work particularly well where there are a number of self contained exercises or modules upon which the students can reflect and put into practice what they gained from the process in the next exercise.

Remarks

Overall I see the diary and the use of reflection in learning as an optimistic approach, encouraging the students to use the recognition and understanding of ‘what went wrong and why’ to improve things next time. Also to encourage the students to maintain their strengths and to build upon them.

Last Modified: 4 June 2010