Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Oral Legal Defence Techniques
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English,
Teaching staff
Any queries regarding the progress of the subject, its content or its assessment should be directed to the course coordinator.
Introduction
One of the essential and recurring tasks of a lawyer’s professional activity is the oral defence of the rights and interests of his or her clients. However, such communicative activity is far from simple, added to which it is a subject not usually included in the teaching content of a law degree syllabus. This course teaches students, in a practical way, the various oral defence techniques, based on the specific perspective of presenting specialised legal knowledge to a highly technically aware audience.
Pre-course requirements
None required
Objectives
That students are able to make oral presentations of their specialised technical-legal knowledge in a rigorous, convincing and brilliant way.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CA11 - Know how to develop skills that allow lawyers to be more efficient in their work and enhance the overall functioning of the team or institution they belong to by accessing information sources, using their knowledge of languages, knowledge management and the management of applied techniques and tools
- CB06 - Possess and understand knowledge that provides a basis or opportunity to be original in the development and/or application of ideas in a professional context.
- CB07 - Know how to apply acquired knowledge and problem-solving abilities in new or little-known surroundings within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their field of study.
- CB09 - Know how to communicate their conclusions to specialist and non-specialist audiences alike in a clear and unambiguous way along with the rationale and knowledge that supports them.
- CG01 - Acquire the ability to work individually and as part of a team as well as the communication and leadership skills required to progress in the legal profession.
Learning outcomes of the subject
Students will learn how to:
Orally transmit their technical-legal knowledge to a specialised audience, in a rigorous, convincing and brilliant way.
Syllabus
Unit 1. Communication techniques. Study techniques.
Unit 2. Memorization techniques. Review systems. Cumulative review.
Unit 3. Organization of time.
Unit 4. The legal discourse. Elements. Structure. Adaptation of the speech.
Topic 5. The legal debate. Rules. Premises. Structure. Emotional aspects.
Unit 6. Public speaking. Formal and substantive aspects. Duration.
Unit 7. Non-verbal language. Clothing. Look. Voice. Gesticulation.
Topic 8. Assertive behavior. Techniques.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The teaching methodology will combine two educational strategies.
One half of the course will consist of master classes to provide the student with knowledge about effective memorisation, stress management and effective oral communication skills.
The other half of the course will concentrate on preparing students for dealing with all kinds of oral presentations.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
The evaluation consists of two parameters:
Participation in class and the performance achieved in tests set by the teaching staff accounts for 60% of the final mark.
An oral test set by the teaching staff for which students need to present on specified legal content accounts for 40% of the final mark.
Bibliography and resources
The teaching staff of the subject will provide students with the necessary materials as the course progresses.