Course overview
This course provides a theoretical framework to enable an advanced understanding of the practical and ethical skills of advocacy. It provides students with the opportunity to develop a broad range of skills towards all aspects of effective advocacy. Includes basic advocacy skills; the role and etiquette of an advocate; the underlying notion of 'ethical' advocacy to all aspects of advocacy; taking clients' instructions; negotiation and alternative dispute resolution; written advocacy; opening and closing addresses; advocacy situations junior advocates might encounter and, lastly, an introduction to appellate advocacy. Students will conduct both oral and written advocacy exercises as part of the course.
Course learning outcomes
- Apply knowledge of legislation and case law and underlying skills for effective oral and written advocacy applicable to a complex problem based scenario.
- Analyse and apply underlying notions of ethics and professional responsibility in relation to all forms of advocacy, whether in or outside court.
- Apply research skills in the preparation, structure and presentation of written and oral advocacy.
- Develop, demonstrate and apply ethical and effective skills in written and oral advocacy and evaluate, prepare and communicate legal arguments.