Private Client - LAW00105M

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Module summary

This module will develop students' functioning legal knowledge, and professional skills in the field of providing legal advice to private clients on matters including wills, probate, trusts, finance and tax.

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.

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 legal advice to private clients on matters including wills, probate, trusts, finance and tax. Students will develop knowledge and skills in the context of client-focused scenarios, using practitioner know-how - including legal documentation - to advise on legal issues, and progress matters for their 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, in the context of advising private clients on wills, probate, trusts, finance and tax:

• demonstrate a systematic functioning knowledge of relevant law and processes
• analyse client instructions and supporting legal and factual documentation, to identify legal, financial, taxation and personal issues
• research, using practitioner know-how sources, to identify relevant law and procedure
• analyse and interpret legal documentation, to advise on the intended effect of wills and trusts
• critically apply relevant legal principles and rules to develop financial and tax-efficient solutions aligned with client interests
• advise on the processes and procedural steps required in making a will and in the administration of estates
• demonstrate the application of a range of written and oral professional legal skills, in advising private clients, and communicating with other professionals
• work independently and collaboratively on a range of specified tasks

Module content

The module will focus on a range of common issues and scenarios on which lawyers will advise private clients. These include the making of wills - where students will have an opportunity to develop drafting skills - and the subsequent processes of probate and administration of estates. They will also include the use of trusts in making provision for family members and other beneficiaries. The module will also provide experience of analysing the impact of taxation on a clients' finances and assets, and means by which tax liabilities can be managed and minimised.

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.