Universitat Internacional de Catalunya - Barcelona

Written Legal Defence Techniques

• code 13541
• course 1
• term Semester 2
• type op
• credits 2

Main language of instruction: Spanish

Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English,

Head instructor

Dra. Carmen María LÁZARO - cmlazaro@uic.es

Office hours

Any queries regarding the progress of the subject, its content or its assessment should be directed to the course coordinator.

One of the essential and recurring tasks of a lawyer’s professional activity is the written 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 written defence techniques, based on the specific perspective of presenting specialised legal knowledge to a highly technically aware audience.

None required.

That students are able to present, in written form, their specialist technical-legal knowledge, in a rigorous, convincing and brilliant way.

• 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.

Students will learn how to:

Transmit their technical-legal knowledge in writing to a specialised audience, in a rigorous, convincing and brilliant way.

Topic 1. Formal aspects of writing a topic.

Unit 2. Background aspects in the elaboration of contents. Handling of legal, jurisprudential and doctrinal texts.

Topic 3. Preparation of practice documents of the forum and opinions.

Topic 4. Technique and practice of the test in Constitutional Law

Topic 5. Technique and practice of the test in Civil Law

Unit 6. Technique and practice of the test in Criminal law

Unit 7. Technique and practice of the test in Procedural law

Topic 8. Technique and practice of the test in Administrative Law

The teaching methodology will combine two educational strategies.

One half of the course will consist of master classes, with thorough explanations about how to prepare a report/judgement and similar types of documents.

The other half of the course will concentrate on preparing students for dealing with all kinds of written disclosure evidence requiring specialist legal knowledge. This is mainly achieved through:

-Tests that will allow students to get used to the methodology used in the legal profession’s entrance examination.

-The preparation and defence of a judgement/report on a legal problem -related to the specialist topics covered by the subject «Fundamental Issues of Public and Private Law (I and II) ».

The final grade results in 90% of the performance in carrying the test.

The remaining 10% will be obtained from a practical case-type written test / opinion on the contents of Fundamental Topics of Public and Private Law II.

Regarding the type test, the exam keys are the same as those proposed for any type of test carried out by MUA students, in the present unique circumstances, with the following characteristics:

* The test will reproduce, with absolute fidelity, the structure of the test-type exam of the state exam for access to the Legal Profession.

* It will be scheduled for a specific and limited time.

* The Moodle Questionnaire will be used in classroom.

* The main parameters of the questionnaire are the following: time limitation and penalization of wrong answers.

* Number of questions: 20-25 (duration: 15 minutes).

Regarding the opinion type test, it will be carried out on a practical case. Please note the following details:

* It will deal with some of the topics studied during this semester in the subject "Fundamental Topics of Public and Private Law II".

* The case will be sent to the student by e-mail and will automatically connect with the teacher via virtual videoconference platform.

* At the university the student will write the opinion by hand for two hours.

(v) The percentage of the opinion represents 10% of the final grade for the course.

The teaching staff of the subject will provide students with the necessary materials as the course progresses.