Vulnerable Clients - LAW00104M
- Department: The York Law School
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2025-26
Module summary
This module will develop students' functioning legal knowledge, and professional skills in the field of providing legal advice in a number of areas to vulnerable clients.
Students will develop knowledge and skills in the context of client-focused scenarios, using practitioner know-how - including legal documentation - to advise on specific issues, and progress matters for their clients, whilst developing an understanding of how lawyers can support the specific needs of vulnerable clients.
Module will run
| Occurrence | Teaching period |
|---|---|
| A | Semester 2 2025-26 |
Module aims
The aim of this module is to enable students to develop functioning legal knowledge, and professional skills in the field of providing advice in a number of areas of law to vulnerable clients. These areas will include: refugee and asylum law; immigration; protection of children and adults; mental health; welfare and housing.
Students will develop knowledge and skills in the context of client-focused scenarios, using practitioner know-how - including legal documentation - to advise on specific issues, and progress matters for their clients, whilst developing an understanding of how lawyers can support the specific needs of vulnerable clients.
The knowledge, skills and professionalism gained from the module align with competencies required in professional legal practice at this level.
Module learning outcomes
By the end of this module, students should be able to:
- demonstrate a systematic functioning knowledge of relevant law and processes as may impact on a range of vulnerable clients
- analyse client characteristics, situations, and issues and supporting legal and factual documentation, to identify vulnerabilities, legal and personal issues, and support required
- research, using practitioner know-how sources, to identify relevant law and procedure
- analyse and interpret legal documentation, to advise on its effect on clients
- critically apply relevant legal principles and rules to solve client problems and develop solutions aligned with client interests
- explain the processes and procedural steps required to progress legal matters
- demonstrate the application of a range of written and oral professional legal skills, in advising and vulnerable clients, and communicating with other professionals and agencies
- work independently and collaboratively on a range of specified tasks
Module content
The module will explore a range of areas of law as they impact on vulnerable clients, including refugee and asylum law; immigration; protection of children and adults; mental health; welfare and housing. The module will provide students with insight into the range of vulnerable clients who may require legal advice and representation, and the role of a lawyer in providing support.
Indicative assessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Special assessment rules
None
Additional assessment information
The Client Advice to be submitted for assessment may include one or more legal documents or extracts thereof, which the student will be required to prepare or amend as part of the assessment.
Indicative reassessment
| Task | % of module mark |
|---|---|
| Essay/coursework | 100 |
Module feedback
Students will receive regular feedback from their tutor in workshops, including on any outputs created in the context of the simulated matters on which they will work during the module. Individual feedback on the assessed client advice submitted for the final assessment will be provided in the summer semester period within the University turnaround period.
Indicative reading
Students will have access to Westlaw's Practical Law, a source of practitioner know-how, including precedent documentation.
Due to the professional nature of the module, there will be no set reading: students will be expected to use research skills to identify relevant primary and secondary sources, including practitioner know-how and precedents.