ILSPA's Single Subject Foundation Courses Syllabus

Overview

ILSPA’s Single Subject Legal courses are suitable for people who would like to specialise in one particular area of law. We offer a range of subjects that can be studied online at home by distance learning. It is possible to start our courses at any time of year and learners can study at their own pace. There are no examinations for the courses and the learner is assessed by way of coursework. All the course material is accessed online through our website.

Our Foundation level courses are suitable for people who would like to gain knowledge of one area of law and learn about the legal secretarial procedures involved. The learner does not need to have any previous experience of law, but he or she is required to have secretarial skills.

The following subjects are available:

Civil Litigation
Land Law and Conveyancing Practice
Wills, Probate and Administration Practice
Family Law and Practice

CIVIL LITIGATION

The aim of this course is to enable the learner to gain an understanding of the main aspects of civil litigation as well as an understanding of how a litigation problem is dealt with. The learner will also develop his or her word processing skills and be able to apply them to a variety of legal forms and documents.

Through studying this course the learner will understand:

The litigation procedure
Procedural steps for a specified amount claim
Procedural steps for an unspecified amount claim
Procedural steps for a summary judgment where there is no defence
Statements of case and the functions of each
The importance of disclosure and the inspection of documents
What is required when preparing for trial
The enforcement of judgment

The learner will also be able to produce the following forms and documents:

Claim form
Particulars of claim
Letter of claim
Letter to the county court for the issue of a claim form
Request for judgment in default for a specified amount
Defence
Letter serving a defence
Request for further information
Instructions to Counsel

LAND LAW AND CONVEYANCING

The aim of this course is to enable the learner to gain an understanding of land law and property ownership as well as the key steps in a conveyancing transaction. The learner will also develop his or her word processing skills and be able to apply them to a variety of legal forms and documents.

Through studying this course the learner will understand:

Origins of land law
Legal and equitable estates in land
Interests in land
Co-ownership
Registered and unregistered titles
Mortgages
Land charges
Adverse possession
The conveyancing transaction
The National Conveyancing Protocol
Differences in procedures between registered and unregistered conveyancing
Failure to complete
A step-by-step guide to the conveyancing transaction
Conveyancing terminology
The importance of an exchange of contracts in a sale and a purchase
The role of completion statements and cash accounts

The learner will also be able to produce the following forms and documents:

Register of local land charges – requisition for search and official certificate of search
Standard enquiries of local authority
Coal mining search
Searches of whole and part
Land charges search
Bankruptcy search
Letter to the client requesting completion of a seller’s property information form
Letter to the solicitor submitting preliminary enquiries
Draft Deed of Covenant
Engrossed Deed of Covenant
Letter to Client enclosing Deed of Covenant
Transfer of whole
Engrossed lease
Draft licence to assign
Draft assignment

WILLS, PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION

The aim of this course is to enable the learner to gain an understanding of the law and practice relating to the estate, rights and charges a person leaves after his or her death. It includes matters relating to wills and the administration of an estate. The learner will also develop his or her word processing skills and be able to apply them to a variety of legal forms and documents.

Through studying this course the learner will understand:

Testate, intestate and partial intestacy
Grants of Representation
Entitlement to act as an Administrator under intestacy
Powers and duties of Personal Representatives
Procedural steps for obtaining a Grant of Probate
Procedural steps for obtaining a Grant of Letters of Administration
An affidavit of due execution and of plight and condition
Key requirements of a valid Will
Proper execution of a Will
Testamentary dispositions
Revocation
Rectification of a Will
Intestacy
The administration of estates

The learner will also be able to produce the following forms and documents:

Draft Will
Engrossed Will
Grant of Probate Application
Letter to a client sending the application for signing
Trust Deed
Various letters in connection with the winding up of an estate

FAMILY LAW AND PRACTICE

The aim of this course is to enable the learner to gain an understanding of marriage and civil partnerships, and the procedures for a divorce or dissolution. The learner will understand how the breakdown of relationships affects children of the union and also the problems ancillary to such a breakdown, such as financial and property disputes. The learner will also develop his or her word processing skills and be able to apply them to a variety of legal forms and documents.

Through studying this course the learner will understand:

Marriage
Civil Partnerships
Divorce
Dissolution of a Civil Partnership
Divorce / Civil Partnership Dissolution Procedure
Financial Remedy Orders
Pre- Nuptial Agreements and Matrimonial Matters before Magistrates
Child or Children Orders

The learner will also be able to produce the following forms and documents:

Client Statement
Client Information Form
Divorce Petition
Letter for Certificate regarding Reconciliation
Letter to lodge Petition
Application for a Decree Nisi
Statement in Support of the Divorce

Course Material

The Student area of our website includes everything the learner needs for the course. Once enrolled, the learner will be able to access the course material, coursework and Student resources. ILSPA's courses are complete in themselves and the learner does not need to purchase any textbooks.

Coursework

There are no examinations for the Single Subject Legal Foundation courses. The learner is assessed through coursework which consists of a multiple-choice achievement test and practical assessments.

The multiple-choice achievement test gives the learner the ability to show his or her understanding of the subject studied. The practical assessments involve the production of legal forms and documents. Full instructions and examples are provided in the course material to enable the learner to complete the coursework. Through completing the assessments, the learner will be able to show how well he or she is able to follow instructions and apply word processing skills to a variety of legal documents.

Course Results

The learner will be given a percentage for his or her achievement test and practical assessments. An average percentage is taken from these results and the following grades are awarded for the overall result:

Pass: 80% to 89%

Merit: 90% to 94%

Distinction: 95% to 100%

Upon passing the course, the learner will be awarded a Foundation Certificate in his or her area of study. If the learner fails any part of the course, he or she will be given the opportunity to redo it once.

Help and Support

We provide the learner with all the help that is needed to complete the course. Our Course Assessor and the ILSPA team will be happy to answer any queries that he or she has by telephone or email.

If you have any queries about our syllabus, please telephone us on 0207 1009210 or email us at info@institutelegalsecretaries.com.