Diploma in Legal Assistance

Purpose

This qualification aims to develop theoretical competencies and practical skills for individuals to effectively operate as legal assistants. The qualification consists of formal theoretical knowledge and detailed procedural prescriptions. It will prepare learners for careers for both private practice as well as in the public sector. It aims to develop specific skills in applicable language, communication, organising and computing. With a continuous work integrated learning component, learners will be well prepared to enter the labour market. The intended purpose of this qualification is to give the successful student a professional, vocational and sound understanding of the general theoretical principles and their applications in the field of Legal Assistance.

Rationale

The qualification is designed for learners who endeavour to pursue a career in the legal sector and the qualification will satisfy the niche areas identified as gaps in industry and can be applied by people that plan to practice as paralegals. The learners will be able to provide a legal support service to attorneys and/or advocates in private practice, render service in Legal Aid Departments by giving legal advice and support to clients, work in Police Departments by taking down witness statements and provide support in the Justice Department and the Court system to provide professional and effective service to the public. The qualification specialises in legal assistance and will fill a gap in the learning pathway for people wishing to provide legal assistance in legal aid centres, the department of justice, police departments and in the private legal practice environment.

The institution has appropriate policies and procedures for Recognition of Prior Learning(RPL) including the identification, documentation, assessment, evaluation and transcription of prior learning against specified learning outcomes. Recognition of Prior Learning(RPL) can be used:

• By learners who do not meet the entry requirements to gain admission to the qualification.
• To receive credits towards the qualification.

Entry Requirements

The minimum requirement is

• National Senior Certificate National Qualifications Framework(NQF) Level 4.

This qualification comprises of compulsory modules at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Level 5, 6 and 7 totalling at 396 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 5, 135 Credits

• Legal History, 9 Credits.
• Introduction to the Theory of Law (Labour), 8 Credits.
• Information and Communications Technology(ICT) Skills 1, 10 Credits.
• Language and Life Skills, 9 Credits.
• Information and Communications Technology(ICT) Skills for Legal Assistance, 6 Credits.
• Work Integrated Learning 1.2 (Legal), 10 Credits.
• Legal Profession 1.2, 15 Credits.
• Mercantile Law 1.2, 15 Credits.
• Mercantile Law 1.1, 15 Credits.
• Work Integrated Learning 1.1 (Legal), 10 Credits.
• Legal Profession 1.1, 15 Credits.
• Human Rights Law, 9 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 6, 189 Credits

• Law of Contract, 9 Credits.
• Work Integrated Learning 2.2 (Legal), 10 Credits.
• Legal Profession 2.2, 15 Credits.
• Work Integrated Learning 2.1 (Legal), 10 Credits.
• Law of Evidence, 8 Credits.
• Criminal Law 1.1, 9 Credits.
• Legal Profession 2.1, 15 Credits.
• Law of Succession, 9 Credits.
• Criminal Law 1.2, 9 Credits.
• Mercantile Law 2.2, 15 Credits.
• Mercantile Law 2.1, 15 Credits.
• Law of Criminal Procedure, 9 Credits.
• Law of Persons, 9 Credits.
• Family Law, 9 Credits.
• Law of Civil Procedure, 9 Credits.
• Interpretation of Statutes, 9 Credits.
• Work Integrated Learning 3.1 (Legal), 10 Credits.
• Work Integrated Learning 3.2 (Legal), 10 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, Level 7, 75 Credits

• Legal Profession 3.1, 15 Credits.
• Mercantile Law 3.2, 15 Credits.
• Mercantile Law 3.1, 15 Credits.
• Legal Profession 3.2, 15 Credits.
• Mercantile Law 3.3, 15 Credits.

1. Provide a legal support service to attorneys and/or advocates in private practice.
2. Render service in Legal Aid Departments by giving legal advice and support to clients.
3. Work in Police Departments by taking down witness statements.
4. Provide support in the Justice Department and the court system.
5. Provide professional and effective service to the public.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Collect, collate, interpret and report on information related to legal practice and legal problems as they present in practice.
• Identify and select information relating to legal precedent on specific legal problems.
• Use technology in appropriate contexts to access, process and store information as well as to retrieve and apply information.
• Compile and organise court files in preparation for trial.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Apply appropriate legal principles to real life case studies or interviews with clients.
• Select correct strategies to advise and assist legal clients.
• Research and analyse legal principles and compare findings to legal problems of the client.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Interpret and analyse information specifically relevant to the taking down of witness statements.
• Use technology in appropriate contexts to process, store, distribute and retrieve information.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Identify, select and research information relating to legal precedent on specific legal problems.
• Discuss and present information in appropriate ways, using appropriate technology.
• Design and guide the implementation of procedures and systems to retrieve and store information.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Select correct strategies to advise and assist legal clients.
• Formulate and present well researched arguments based on legal principles.

Integrated Assessment

Both formative and summative assessments are integral components of all modules within the qualification and have application to both traditional summative and continuous assessment, ensuring overall applied competence. All teaching and learning activities in the qualification are aligned to the assessment approach of the individual modules indicating a constructive alignment approach in the design of the qualification. The assessment activities form an integral part of the teaching and learning process and are systematically and purposefully used to generate data for grading. Timely feedback to learners' forms part of the assessment strategy of the institution and is used to inform teaching and learning and to improve the curriculum. Learning outcomes in all modules give an indication as to what will be assessed in the module and thus ensures constructive alignment of the modules within the qualification.