Keele Badge

LAW-20126 - Module Specification
School of Law
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

LAW-20126 - Civil Litigation Skills
Coordinator:
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 733218

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

This module provides a practical introduction to skills that are essential for lawyers, within the context of civil litigation. The ability to interview effectively and then to present a legal argument formally on behalf of a client. Students will be given an introduction to client interviewing, civil mediation and advocacy.
This class is based on the concept of experiential learning, so is highly practical and interactive within a supportive environment.
This module is about you and how you develop your theoretical and practical understanding of these legal skills. You will be challenged and supported with multiple opportunities for formative feedback on your performance and reflections.

Aims
To enable students to develop a wide variety of skills relevant to professional legal practice in a law firm or barristers' chambers through the experiential learning model.

Intended Learning Outcomes

analyse your own personal and professional skills, particularly within the context of advising, mediating and advocacy;: 2,3
conduct a client interview by putting your client at ease, carefully questioning and then orally providing preliminary legal advice;: 3
evaluate the process by which a claim and a defence are progressed;
: 1
advise on the tactical considerations throughout a litigated claim, including costs and professional conduct, within a simulated case study.: 1

Study hours

Semester 1
6 x pre-recorded lectures with preparatory work
10 x 1 hour live online interactive lectures consolidating and preparing for the week ahead
8 x 2 hour practical class workshops where students will demonstrate the skills in a practical context.
118 self-directed research, reflection on performances and preparation of practical classroom activities and final assessed portfolio.
Semester 2
1 x Introductory lecture of 2 hours
9 x Synchronous delivery of targeted online classes in Learning Units of 1 hour
Asynchronous anticipated and ad hoc podcasts to respond flexibly to student needs 1 hour
9 x workshops of 2 hours
1 x Revision Lecture of 2 hours
9 x self-study periods to prepare for each workshop to involve (re)listening to asynchronous lectures and directed reading, each of 5 hours
Independent study including preparing and completing assessments = 73 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Open Book Assessment weighted 30%
1500-word OOBA answering 3 problem questions from a simulated scenario
Problem based scenario(s) will cover common issues encountered in practice and require a practical approach to the application of the law. Students must complete the unseen, related assessment tasks. The paper will be released on the KLE at 9am on the morning of the assessment window. Students will have 28 hours to submit their answers. The word count for this assessment is a maximum of 1,500 words. Although 28 hours has been allocated as the time frame within which answers must be submitted, we expect that most students will take no more than 2-3 hours to complete their answers. Answers must be completed and submitted in accordance with the Law School approved rubric for 28-hour online assessments.

2: Portfolio weighted 35%
1750-word reflective portfolio
A reflective account of how the student has developed personal and professional skills during semester 1 with reference to examples/evidence produced and knowledge acquired. (1,750 words)

3: Practice Based Assessment weighted 35%
20-minute practical assessment of a simulated client interview
A recorded client interview advising on preliminary legal issues in a civil claim to last no more than 20 minutes. This will illustrate practically the student's understanding of key concepts within professional conduct as well as costs and Alternative Dispute Resolution. This authentic method of assessment demonstrates applied learning within disciplinary practice, and allows for the development of skills for future employability.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 17 March 2026