CASE STUDIES OF PRACTICE: LAW
Title of Practice: Work Experience Option (30% of 30 credit module – level 1)
Contact: Dr Sue Prince (S.J.Prince@exeter.ac.uk), Law
Case study date: March 2008
Reason for selection: A good example of how employability objectives, work experience and planning for
personal development can be integrated into the traditional curriculum. Students are expected to be pro-active
in finding work and taking responsibility for their progress at a very early stage of their degree, and relating their
experience to aspects of the law. The assessment is designed to reinforce awareness of skill development,
through a formal oral presentation with an emphasis on critical reflection and learning from experience.
GENERAL BACKGROUND
School
LAW
Subject
LAW
Lead person
DR SUE PRINCE
Module Title (if applicable)
INTRODUCTION TO LAW
Module Code
LAW1012
Others involved
ABOUT THE PRACTICE/PROJECT
Type of activity eg.
Single session,
project, module,
other
Workshops on active learning and presentation skills and independent student work
in obtaining and undertaking work experience
Focus for activity
Focus is on personal development, reflection, careers and employability, presentation
skills. Students can choose either this option or an option in advocacy which requires
the same foci and learning outcomes.
eg. Active learning,
students as researchers,
key skills, other
Size of student group
Workshop groups are normally 20 – 30 students. Assessment groups for the
presentation are normally no more than 5 students.
Description
The Introduction to Law module aims to provide students with a broad and critical
understanding of the structure and functions of the legal system. It also aims to
provide insight into the legal profession and practice of law as well as developing a
student’s own awareness of their goals and development objectives at an early stage
in the degree programme. The module is divided into 3 parts: lectures and
interactive workshops (assessed by examination 50%); a community group project
(20%) and a choice from 2 practical options: work experience or advocacy (30%).
Work Experience: Students must organise their own 35 hours of work experience.
This does not need to be in a law firm or in a law-related field but the student must
relate their experience to either the study or practice of law when giving their oral
presentation and in their written reflective assessment. The quality of the experience
is what is important rather than the quality of the firm, type of work etc. Students
have worked in CAB, international law firms, local law firms, restaurants, funeral
directors, as surf instructors, etc. There are two workshops during Term 2 which are
based upon the development of active learning and personal development planning.
There is also a ‘work experience pack’ which accompanies the option and contains
information on reflective planning, activities, assessment criteria and forms for
employers to give feedback, etc.
What was the
rationale for
introducing the
practice?
ASSESSMENT
To enable students to develop their ability to reflect upon their own development
whilst they are at University at the beginning of their degree (Level 1); to enable them
to think about law from a professional, work-based perspective; to think about how to
answer questions on application forms; to think about how to use work experience in
a pro-active manner. To enable students to develop and practice formal presentation
skills. To enable students to undertake a formal work experience at an early point in
their degree studies.
Assessment Formative
Short exercises during workshops; organising work experience.
Assessment Summative
Assessment is via a 7- minute formal oral presentation ‘What I learned during my
work experience’. There are also formal questions at the end of the presentation.
Students have to hand in a short piece of written work (1,500 words) reflecting upon
their whole experience (including the presentation). The written work can only
increase their marks (50% for oral presentation and 50% for written work) should it
show greater reflection than the student was able to deliver in the presentation.
Assessment criteria
including web link if
available
The presentation is assessed on analysis and critical reflection on learning and skill
development, evidence of thorough planning and preparation, and on visual aids.
Presentation delivery is assessed on manner of delivery, engagement with the
audience, and responses to questions.
FEEDBACK (2005/06)
Feedback –
Student comments
"I really enjoyed the practical element of this module and I believe that it helped me to
vastly improve my key skills."
"I also found the integration of PDP into the module frustrating as it was not
particularly academically stimulating and I don't feel that benefited particularly from
it."
"However I found that I enjoyed the work experience option that we were required to
take as a part of the module. It increased my confidence in the workplace as well as
forcing me to improve my public speaking skills."
"The work placement... option I found highly beneficial as the practical experience
was essential."
"I enjoyed the work experience aspect however and also how the module was
assessed. It was different to normal modules and this made it more interesting as
there were different things to be getting on with."