LEGAL PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT AND REGULATION - 2025/6

Module Overview

• This cross-semester module will enable students to apply theoretical and academic knowledge in practical, professional environments.


• It links with directed SQE1 preparation from the embedded online learning tool (including completion of MCQs).


• It links specifically with issues relating to Property Law and Legal Systems through use of an online legal clinic and completion of court observations.


• Students will learn about the regulation of the legal profession.


• Students will complete physical and virtual court observations (from choices including Magistrates Court, Crown Court, County Court, Court of Protection).


• Students will participate in an online legal clinic (under the supervision of a qualified solicitor).


• Students will gain knowledge and experience of various practice areas, including online clinic queries relating to Property Law.


• Students will complete SQE1 self-evaluation MCQs for all sections of the embedded online learning tool.


• Students will complete a reflective portfolio which will be submitted at the end of the LLM.


• 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

Surrey Law School

Module Leader

PETERS Katy (Law)

Number of Credits: 75

ECTS Credits: 37.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): 60

Module Availability

Year long

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

• Directed SQE1 preparation using the embedded online learning tool (including MCQs).


• Legal Systems in England & Wales.


• Theory and practice relating to courtroom procedure.


• Observation and analysis of different courts in action.


• Liaising with professionals in a courtroom environment.


• Experience and analysis of physical, hybrid and legal environments.


• Understanding of legal regulatory frameworks and professional competence.


• Clinical legal education through participation in an online law clinic.


• Reflection and preparation of portfolio.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to:

Encourage students to engage with, and reflect on, the practical application of law, its environment and regulation in the context of their SQE1 preparation.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• A Portfolio coursework which will be submitted at the end of the programme. 

The Portfolio will cover all of the Learning Outcomes.

Formative assessment:

Students will submit a partially completed Portfolio at the end of Semester One, which will be reviewed by Lecturers so that appropriate support can be provided to ensure adequate progress.

MCQ test - students will be able to carry out self-evaluation of their SQE1 preparation using the embedded online tool.

Feedback:

Students will be provided with synchronous feedback in relation to their work in the online law clinic.

Interactive lectures and seminars will provide opportunities for lecturer, practitioner and peer feedback and review.

Individual feedback will be provided following submission of the Formative and completion of the first Summative Assessment.

Module aims

• Directed SQE1 preparation from relevant sections of embedded online learning tool (including completion of MCQs).
• To gain experience of different legal environments.
• To gain an understanding of legal professional regulation.
• To gain practical experience of providing advice in a law clinic setting.
• To reflect on understanding, learning and experience in a portfolio assessment.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

Provide students with an understanding of legal professional environments and regulation through experiential learning in a variety of legal settings.

To apply academic legal knowledge and skills gained in other programme modules to the provision of practical legal advice in a real-life clinic setting.

Link practical application of legal learning with directed SQE1 preparation using the embedded online learning tool.

 

The learning and teaching methods include:

Interactive lectures and workshops.

Guest speakers and presenters.

Court observations and reflections.

Experiential learning in a law clinic setting.

Directed SQE1 preparation using the SQE1 embedded online tool.

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: LAWM171

Other information

The school of Law is committed to developing postgraduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills, and capabilities in the following areas:

Digital Capabilities: Students will apply and refine their digital capabilities through engagement with a variety of online learning applications and activities; particularly the embedded online SQE1 preparation tool. Students are expected to be proficient in navigating the University of Surrey’s VLE, SurreyLearn, to support their learning, communicate with peers and tutors and submit assessment output. Students are further expected to be proficient in utilising a variety of digital databases and accessing online portals associated with courtroom observations and the legal clinic platform. The teaching activities in this module will also embrace the use of interactive digital educational applications to enhance students' learning. All students are expected to be proficient in the use of professional digital tools and communication applications and will be given opportunities to engage with these as part of their experiential learning. The module will make use of the Court of the Future in the School of Law and students will be encouraged to reflect on the use of technology in court proceedings and the provision of online legal advice. Students will also be encouraged to reflect on issues relating to access to justice and digital connectivity, poverty and exclusion in the context of their clinical legal education work.

Employability: This module will have direct links with employability skills through its focus on observation, reflection and experiential learning in conjunction with the legal sector. Students will be able to develop transferable professional skills through the provision advice in the online clinic and will also be able to demonstrate a commitment to the pro bono legal advice sector through our collaboration with LawWorks and the Free Legal Answers Platform. Court observations will facilitate the development of networking skills and professional etiquette. The focus on legal environment and regulation will be a good foundation for career progression within the legal sector. The module will provide students with a basis to progress to their SQE1 and SQE2 assessments and may assist them as they seek to obtain Qualifying Work Experience.

Global & Cultural Capabilities: This module enables students to experience and reflect on the impact which legal advice, courtroom layout and legal environment can have on access to justice and accessing justice effectively. They will be required to engage with lawyers and clients from diverse backgrounds and cultures, some of whom may be unfamiliar with English and/or legal language, and to help them to navigate the legal environment.

Resourcefulness and Resilience: This module requires students to work independently and with supervision to arrange court observations, draft legal advice and reflect on their experiences. Students will need to self-evaluate their SQE1 preparation using the embedded online learning tool, and to create a long-term workplan for completion of their portfolio requirements.

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 2025/6 academic year.