Portfolio-based learning and assessment in law

This section provides brief descriptions of two modules developed at the University of Westminster using portfolio-based learning and assessment.

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Legal Skills and Process 1 (LSP1)

This is an LLB level 1 (year 1) first semester module designed to develop students basic research, reasoning and communication skills. It is delivered through a series of lectures and seminars over 13 teaching weeks. It is assessed wholly by portfolio tasks, which, with the exception of the final multiple choice examination, are on a competent/not competent basis. Students are not required to draft a separate commentary on their learning, however they are expected to complete a reflection sheet after completing each task.

The schedule of tasks looks like this:

Week	Task
1	library familiarisation
2	e-mail communication library catalogue search
3	Iolis overview
4	Current Legal Information search
5	referencing exercise
6	Current Legal Information case search
7	[none]
8	write a case note
9	Current Legal Information legislation search
10	statutory interpretation task
11	research reflection
12	group presentation
13	[none – revision week]
14	[none – revision week]
15	multiple choice exam

Students who fail at the first attempt are given a further opportunity to achieve competence in these tasks during the semester.

LSP1 Portfolio task reflection sheet

You will be asked to complete a portfolio task reflection sheet after you have completed each of the portfolio tasks set in LSP1. The questions you will be asked to consider are as follows:

Name:

Tutor:

Portfolio task:

Date:

In no more than 500 words in total, answer the following questions honestly!

1. What did you find easiest about this portfolio task and why?
2. What did you find most difficult about this portfolio task and why?
3. What skills have you learned and how do you feel that your performance has improved in this module and why?
4. What do you need to do to improve your performance in this task and how do you hope to do that?
5. How do you think the skills you have used during this task will assist you in your degree?

Legal Skills and Process 2 (LSP2)

LSP2 is an LLB level 2 compulsory module, taught in the first semester of the second year. It is designed around a weekly two hour workshop format, delivered to groups of up to 24 students. The teaching programme involves workshops on experiential learning and the legal profession and ethics, and introductions to client interviewing, written communication skills, drafting and negotiation skills. These are designed not so much as a precursor to the professional training courses, but as vehicles for developing key communication skills and the capacity for self reflection. The course is supported by a small number of lectures (four at present), which are designed to support contextual understanding of the legal profession and the civil legal process.

The assessment again is purely by portfolio and comprises three elements:

• workshop log sheets – students must construct these around three headings, asking them to reflect on (a) what they did in a specific workshop, (b) what they learned from what they did, and © what action they propose to take to enhance their learning in the light of that workshop. To meet the assessment criteria students are required to submit at least six log sheets (out of a possible 10); they can submit more, and if they do, the best six count.
• evidence - students are required to submit evidence of preparation for their workshops. This is defined illustratively rather than exhaustively, to give students some discretion/opportunity to use their initiative in deciding what to submit.
• critical evaluation - when we first set up the course students were required to submit a reflective essay, based on a choice of titles which required them to synthesise their learning from books and learning from experience. This has been only partially successful, and in 2002-03 we intend to require a more conventional (from the perspective of portfolio-based assessment) critical evaluation of the whole semesters work.

The assessment is graded against specified assessment criteria see the copy of the assessment guidance issued in October 2001.

LSP2 Log sheet

Please complete one of these forms for each of the workshops you submit in your portfolio. If there is insufficient space, add your own continuation sheets, using the same headings as on this form.
Please type or write clearly. Illegible script will not be marked!

Name:

Workshop title:

Date log sheet completed:

Brief description of activity/ies:

What have you learned from it/them:

Your action plan:

LSP2 Assessment guidance

This module is assessed by portfolio alone. The aim of the portfolio is to provide a form of continuous assessment of your progress over the module.

Your portfolio must contain the following:

• a completed portfolio log sheet for each workshop you decide to submit as part of your portfolio. You must submit a minimum of six out of the nine substantive workshops ie workshops 2 to 10 for this module. WARNING: under the assessment rules for this module, failure to meet this criterion will result in FAILURE of the module. If you submit more than six we will count the best six as contributing to your final mark.
• supporting preparatory material showing your preparation for each of the workshops that you submit as part of the portfolio. ‘Material’ for this purpose may include you own notes (typed or handwritten), photocopied source materials (other than from the recommended textbook please!) and any other evidence of tasks or exercises prepared or completed that you wish to include, but please not video or audio tape, as we do not have the time or facilities to review it easily.

• evidence that you have followed up on your action plan can also be placed in your portfolio, and is likely to enhance the mark awarded.

• a reflective essay of not more than 1,500 words (excluding footnotes and bibliography), title to be chosen from an approved list that will be distributed at the end of October. The reflective essay will account for 30% of the total mark for this assessment.

Assessment criteria:

The reflective essay (30%)

Students will be expected to demonstrate:

• appropriate theoretical knowledge and understanding of legal professional practice, skills and ethics
• the ability to select, read and synthesise appropriate secondary sources
• the capacity critically to analyse the issues raised by the question set
• the ability to adopt appropriate academic writing conventions, including notation system and bibliography
• the ability to communicate in clear written English

The remainder of the portfolio (70%)

Students will be expected to demonstrate:

• knowledge and understanding of the theory and practice of lawyering
• preparation of and engagement with the learning activities set
• reflection on tasks and activities set, including where appropriate a critical evaluation of performance, either by self or peers
• where appropriate, discussion and prescription of steps that might be taken to improve future performance
• the capacity generally to reflect on own learning in the course of the module.

Assessment is graded, with the pass mark set at 40%.

Last Modified: 4 June 2010