Level 7 Post Graduate Diploma in Paralegal Practice

The Post Graduate Diploma in Paralegal Practice is designed to bridge the gap between an academic degree and the practical and procedural knowledge and skills necessary to be able to function effectively as a Career Paralegal. Alternatively, it will provide the Graduate with a foundation for subsequent professional development and will help them in their quest to obtain a Training Contract or to make a decision whether to do the LPC course.

Syllabus

Practice Areas

Civil Litigation: Civil Court structure; Preliminary considerations; Action prior to Proceedings; Commencing and Conducting the Claim; Statements of Case; Summary Judgment; Interim proceedings; Discovery; Preparing for Trial; proceedings at Trial; Forms of Judgment; Enforcement of Judgments; Costs.

Matrimonial and Civil Partnership Disputes: Preliminary considerations; Financial Provision; Ownership of Property:Children: Divorce: Valid, void and voidable marriages / CDs; Procedure - Divorce/termination, Nullity and Judicial Separation; Ancillary Relief: Forms and Documentation: Domestic Proceedings and Orders in the Magistrates Court; Decrees Nisi and Absolute.

Criminal Practice: Criminal Court Structure: Preliminary Matters; Police Powers; Police Station Interviewing; Commencement.; Legal Aid; Bail; Summary Trial: Trial by Indictment: Sentencing; Assisting Counsel/Solicitor advocate at a trial. Sanctions: Types of sentences; philosophies of sanctions; Appeal.

Conveyancing: General; Outlines of Land Law; The First Interview: The three stages of a Conveyancing Transaction; Pre-exchange of contracts; Searches and Enquiries; The draft contract: Deducing Title - Registered land and Unregistered land; Investigating Title: Mortgages, Exchange of contracts. Post contract/pre-completion: Requisitions on title; Transfer of Part, Conveyance, Assent, Searches; Obtaining funds. Preparing for completion,Completion - date time & place, Breach of contract, Notice to complete, Rescission; Completion; Post completion: Leaseholds: Possessory Title.

Succession: Wills: Taking instructions Functions and scope of a will: Gifts, bequests, legacies and devises, residue, appointment of Executors, Failure of bequests; Testacy and Intestacy; Probate & Administration - Practice and Procedure; Administering the Estate: Personal Representatives and their duties and powers; Protection against claims; distribution of the estate.

Corporate / Commercial work: Business Structures: Sole Trader, Partnership and Company. Types of Companies, Incorporation: The 'veil of incorporation' and lifting the veil. Public and Private Companies: Incorporation Procedure: Functions of the Registrar of Companies; Promoters; The Memorandum and Articles of Association; Share Capital; Loan Capital; Debentures; Floating Charges; Membership; powers of the Court; Directors & Secretary; powers; Board Meetings; Managing Director; Contracts of Employment; Loans to Directors; Fiduciary duties; insider dealing; Meetings and Resolutions; Annual Return; Accounts; the Directors' Report. Reconstructions, Mergers and Take-overs: Take-overs; basic procedure; the City Code. Liquidation, Administration and Receivership: Liquidation, dissolution and winding up.

Skills

Interviewing: The Paralegal as a communication specialist; a model of the client interview; purpose; environment; introduction and closure; language; preparation; listening; rapport; investigative interviewing; record of the interview; checklists.

Negotiating: The PPC criteria for negotiation. Preparation, Three stages of every negotiation, beginning, middle and ending gambits, power and how to get it, personality styles, factors that influence negotiation.

Advocacy: Paralegals have rights of audience in the Small Claims Courts, most Tribunals and before District Judges on Interim Applications, principles and ethics, preparation for hearing/trial, examination and cross-examination; submissions, persuasion.

Drafting: Introduction; the PPC criteria for drafting; drafting informal documents, drafting formal documents, forms and precedence.

Please note that their no tests or assignments for the Legal Skills part of the course. Distance Learning Students do have the option of attending the class sessions at a cost of £50 per skills subject. Each subject is over two class sessions.

The course (including the Distance Learning Course) will include the opportunity to visit the Royal Courts of Justice in London, and also a look around part of 'legal London' - The Middle Temple and The Inner Temple.

Assessment
Each unit is divided into lessons and has a multiple choice achievement test and one or more assignments. All tests and assignments will be marked and graded and will be returned with tutor's comments. The tutor will answer any queries that the student may have and give unlimited help and guidance if there is anything that the student may not fully understand.

Entry Requirements

LL.B. (Hons)

BA LAW

CPE/GDL

Law Degree based on Common Law (Overseas students please note, your degree needs to include The English Legal System. If not, you do have the option of studying the relevant General Principals of Law subjects before commencing this course)