PRACTICAL EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS - 2024/5

Module Overview

The module aims to provide students with the employability tools that will enable them to develop and demonstrate transferable academic and professional skills within the legal sector.

Interactive workshops, guest speakers and a mock assessment centre offer an experiential learning model that will complement their SQE1 preparation.

It will also incorporate directed SQE1 preparation from relevant sections of the embedded online learning tool through completion of the FLK2 mock assessment.

All modules in this programme link with preparation for the SQE and for future professional practice. The pedagogy of this module, including the assessment pattern, relates academic and vocational skills to professional practice in a legal environment.

Module provider

School of Law

Module Leader

PETERS Katy (Schl of Law)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): 60

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

• Directed SQE1 preparation from relevant sections of online learning tool (including completion of MCQs).


• Drafting CVs and Cover Letters.


• Completing job application.


• Interview Skills.


• Assessment Centre Skills.


• Professional etiquette in a legal context.


• Insight into training and working as a solicitor (including Qualifying Work Experience and the SQE).


• Insight into work placements & Qualifying Work Experience (QWE) within the legal sector.


• Insight into non-legal work placements where legal skills are valued.


• Insight into postgraduate Turing Scheme opportunities.


• Commercial awareness in a legal context.


• Vacation schemes and internships as a Postgraduate.


• Paralegal roles.


• Using technology to enhance employability (e.g Surrey Pathfinder & Surrey Connects).


• Equality & Diversity in the legal workplace.


• Making the most of Law Fairs and Careers Events as a Postgraduate.


• Networking in a legal environment.


• Transferable skills: Techniques of legal research and analysis.


• Transferable skills: Legal reasoning and practical skills.


• The relationship between academic law and law in practice.


• A variety of internal and external speakers/workshop leaders.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Online mock Assessment Centre.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to:

Provide students with the opportunity to recognise and develop transferable employability skills that will enable them to prepare successfully for professional employment within the legal sector.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

A Mock Assessment Centre practical assessment covering all Learning Outcomes.

Formative assessment:

Preparation and submission of draft CV and personal statement.

Feedback:

1:1 Employability Meeting.

Peer review within interactive workshops.

Formative feedback (oral and/or written).

Guidance from legal practitioners.

Module aims

• Explain and demonstrate the professional skills which are transferable between academic legal studies and legal practice as a solicitor.
• Enable students to network with legal and other professionals.
• Encourage students to consider the transferable nature of the skills which they acquire through their academic studies and co-curricular activities.
• Prepare students to undertake an Assessment Centre and/or complete a Law-Specific prepare a legal job application.
• Enable students to understand the ways in which transferable skills can enhance their employability.
• Examine links between academic, co and extra-curricular opportunities and postgraduate career pathways.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

• Through experiential learning, introduce topics, with particular emphasis on employability tools and professional skills which will enhance applications and postgraduate career pathways.


• Facilitate independent preparation for job applications and interview processes.


• Enhance student awareness of the transferable nature of skills which can be applicable to both academic legal study and professional working environments.


• Ensure students have the opportunity to obtain constructive feedback which they can use to develop their practical employability skills in the context of the legal sector.


• Facilitate preparation of SQE1 learning materials.

• Directed learning using online tool and completion of the FLK2 mock assessment.


• Lecturer-led introductory sessions.


• Experiential learning methods.


• Interactive workshop seminars with peer-to-peer review and feedback.


• Drawing on expertise and experience from the Employability & Careers team.


• Guest speakers and workshop leaders.


• Professional networking opportunities.


• 1:1 Employability appointments.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: LAWM172

Other information

At the University of Surrey School of Law we strive to create an environment where students can learn about the law and its place in the world, in an enjoyable way that reflects the changing nature of society in the 21st Century.  The SoL prides itself in its sense of community in which students can acquire the confidence to take future professional and life challenges in their stride.

Employability: This module provides students with working knowledge and the key tools required to gain work experience in a professional environment. The students take part in interactive workshops to improve their CV writing skills and consider what employers are looking for in the written application process.  Students work in groups to interview each other and provide peer feedback.  This helps them build confidence to talk to others, take on board constructive feedback and reflect on how they may improve in future interviews.  The workshops ensure that students are inclusive and the group builds a good repour which creates mutual trust and confidence and excellent working relationships in the future.  Speakers are invited to talk to students from a variety of professions which helps to them understand the importance of commercial awareness and improves communication skills when students are invited to ask questions and network with employers after the event.  A Law Fair provides students with the opportunity to speak to numerous employers and ask questions at an informal lunch after the event.  This module also ties in specifically with directed SQE1 preparation using the embedded online learning tool.

Digital Capabilities: Whilst the majority of lectures and workshops are in person, students are encouraged to carry out their own research as they prepare for the Assessment Centre module. They will need to use digital tools to create their CV and covering letter, and sessions involve engaging with virtual interviews and algorithmic testing. Students will be required to complete SQE1 preparation tasks using the embedded online learning tool and they will also be expected to make use of online tools through Surrey Pathfinder. All students are encouraged to update their LinkedIn profile and sign up to SurreyConnects which provides numerous opportunities to meet Law alumni for virtual chats and ask for advice. Guest speakers will engage students with changing uses of technology within the legal sector, such as the use of online case management systems and document production software.

Global and Cultural Capabilities: Although this programme supports students seeking to qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales, UK-qualified lawyers can and do frequently work in – or with - overseas jurisdictions. This module will provide students with the opportunity to consider global career pathways and Turing opportunities. The University of Surrey has over 20 partner Universities including Europe, Australia and America.  When choosing practice areas and considering globally transferable skills, students must take into account language skills/barriers and cultural differences (social and educational). There are a number of common law jurisdictions globally where UK-trained lawyers may find that their skills are in demand.

Sustainability: Students are encouraged to work alongside professional and industry leaders for whom sustainability is an important part of their business model.

Resourcefulness and resilience: The learning, teaching and assessment strategy for this module is designed to challenge and improve employability skills. Many students have a basic understanding of applying for part time work, however the group workshops highlight the competitiveness of the professional market and encourage them to spend time planning, preparing and practicing.  Resilience is a major factor in this module as students may apply for numerous roles in order to progress their path to qualification and receive no response.  We encourage them to consider rejection as a learning tool and ask for feedback from employers, friends, family and tutors to help them improve. Rejection can also highlight that the students may not have the correct skill set for the role, and they may consider other options which they have dismissed in the past.  The application process is time-consuming and students are advised to keep a ‘bank’ of answers to competency questions which they can use and adapt depending the on the role.  This ensures that they become more resourceful with their time and more adept when completing applications.

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2024/5 academic year.