What are generative AI models and how are they affecting legal practice?

LW3082 Graduate Professional Skills & Employability

This Assessment Pack consists of a detailed assignment brief, guidance on what you need to prepare, and information on how class sessions support your ability to complete successfully. You’ll also find information on this page to guide you on how, where, and when to submit. If you need additional support, please make a note of the services detailed in this document.

How, when, and where to submit:

If your work is submitted via the Turnitin link on Blackboard, the link will be visible to you on:

Feedback will be provided by:

You should aim to submit your assessment in advance of the deadline.

Note: If you have any valid mitigating circumstances that mean you cannot meet an assessment submission deadline and you wish to request an extension, you will need to apply online, via MyUCLan with your evidence prior to the deadline. Further information on Mitigating Circumstances via this link.

We wish you all success in completing your assessment. Read this guidance carefully, and any questions, please discuss with your Module Leader.

Additional Support available:

All links are available through the online Student Hub

1. Our Library resources link can be found in the library area of the Student Hub or via your subject librarian at SubjectLibrarians@uclan.ac.uk.
2. Support with your academic skills development (academic writing, critical thinking and referencing) is available through WISER on the Study Skills section of the Student Hub.
3. For help with Turnitin, see Blackboard and Turnitin Support on the Student Hub
4. If you have a disability, specific learning difficulty, long-term health or mental health condition, and not yet advised us, or would like to review your support, Inclusive Support can assist with reasonable adjustments and support. To find out more, you can visit the Inclusive Support page of the Student Hub.
5. For mental health and wellbeing support, please complete our online referral form, or email wellbeing@uclan.ac.uk. You can also call 01772 893020, attend a drop-in, or visit our UCLan Wellbeing ServiceStudent Hub pages for more information.
6. For any other support query, please contact Student Support via studentsupport@uclan.ac.uk.
7. For consideration of Academic Integrity, please refer to detailed guidelines in our policy document . All assessed work should be genuinely your own work, and all resources fully cited.  
8. For advice on the use of Artificial Intelligence, please refer to Categories of AI tools guidance.

For this assignment, you are not permitted to use any category of AI tools.

Preparing for your assignment.

Refer to the Module Information Pack to understand the Learning Outcomes and Marking Criteria.

Prohibition of AI Usage in Assessments

This is a reminder that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools and software in any form is strictly prohibited in all assessments, including exams, quizzes, courseworks and all other assessments.

Key Points:

1. No AI Tools: Do not use AI tools, including (but not limited to):  ChatGPT, Grammarly (any version), QuillBot or any other software that generates or enhances content.
2. Original Work: All work submitted must be your own original creation. Plagiarism or using external tools to complete your assessments is a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy.
3. Consequences: Any student found using AI tools in assessments will face a formal academic misconduct hearing, and subsequent consequences may include : failing the assessment, receiving a grade reduction, or further academic sanctions.  It may also be a professional body requirement that proven instances of academic misconduct are disclosed to them in order to ascertain your character and suitability to practice in the law or other fields of employment.
4. Exceptions: The only exception to this prohibition of AI is for those students who have a documented recommendation from Inclusive Support that specified AI tools can be used.

We encourage you to develop and demonstrate your own understanding and skills. If you have any questions or need further clarification, please contact your tutor, or course leader.

Feedback Guidance:

Reflecting on Feedback: how to improve.

From the feedback you receive, you should understand:

• The grade you achieved
• The best features of your work
• Areas you may not have fully understood
• Areas you are doing well but could develop your understanding.
• What you can do to improve in the future - feedforward

Use the WISER: Academic Skills Development service. WISER can review feedback and help you understand your feedback. You can also use the WISER Feedback Glossary

Next Steps:

• List the steps have you taken to respond to previous feedback.
• Summarise your achievements
• Evaluate where you need to improve here (keep handy for future work):

LW3082

Graduate Professional Skills and Employability

Workbook Assessment

2024-2025

LW3082 – Workbook assessment

Instructions

This workbook is split into three exercises.  The suggested word limit for each exercise is indicated, along with the marks allocated for that section.  You will only be penalised if you exceed the overall word limit of 2,500 words but we advise that you adhere to the word limit of each section to ensure you maximize your marks.   Each question is worth one third of the overall marks for the assessment.

Exercise 1

Read the following extract about generative AI in legal practice:-

‘Generative AI models are already demonstrating an ability to undertake legal research, review contracts and summarise legal documents. Given the current rate of technological advancement, AI will fundamentally alter the practice of law’

Critically evaluate the statement and using evidence to support your evaluation, say to what extent you agree with the statement.

You may wish to consider the following in reaching your conclusion:

• What are generative AI models and how are they affecting legal practice?
• Are there limitations of generative AI in legal practice, for example in relation to client care and satisfaction?
• What are the legal and regulatory challenges of using generative AI models in legal practice?

Word limit: 1000

Exercise 2

The CIPD is the professional body for Human Resources professionals and states that:

Promoting and delivering EDI in the workplace is an essential aspect of good people management. It’s about creating working environments and cultures where every individual can feel safe, experience a sense of belonging, and is empowered to achieve their full potential. 

Critically assess progress on EDI in a working environment of your choice and with reference to one of the following characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010:

Either:

Sex

Or

Disability

You MUST use relevant sources to support your discussion.

Word limit: 750

Exercise 3

You are a trainee solicitor at the firm of Preston Harris Solicitors. You receive the following memo from one of the partners.

Memo

To: Trainee

From: Partner

Client: New Starters

Date: Today

There is an urgent matter that I would like you to deal with for me as I am in court for the next few days.

We have three new fee earners starting work tomorrow and, as part of their induction, I would like you to spend some time with them to help them settle in.  

I need you to discuss the following areas with them:

1. The importance of commercial awareness including an explanation of what it is.

2. How they can increase their level of commercial awareness

3. The importance of critical reflection and how this can be developed (you could draw on your own experience of reflection and personal development as a student or during work experience).

Please provide me with a memo setting out a plan (dealing with points 1-3 above) for the discussions that you will have with the new fee earners.

Word limit: 750

The workbook assessment has a word limit of 2,500 and represents 70% of the overall mark.

The learning outcomes of the module are:

2024–2025 Academic Session

Rules for the Production and Submission of Coursework

IMPORTANT: The following rules for production and submission of coursework must be followed and will form part of the assessment in respect of demonstrating an ability to follow, apply and comply with instructions. You will lose marks if you do not follow the rules listed below.

1. Producing and Presenting your Coursework: Format

(a) You must produce your work in accordance with the latest version of the School of Justice Assessment Guide – the Guide contains advice on spacing, fonts, justification of text, footnotes, word counts, referencing and citation and bibliographies.

(b) Your work must not be produced using ‘unfair means’ (collusion, plagiarism and other such forms of cheating) – see section 6 of the UCLAN Assessment Handbook, which can be found here: http://www.uclan.ac.uk/study_here/student-contract-taught-programmes.php  

(c) We prefer your work to be word-processed in 12-point font AND double spaced so tutors can read with ease and have sufficient room to insert comments.

(d) All citations to cases, statutes, books and journals must be referenced fully, as must web-sites used (with the date last accessed specified) using the OSCOLA style reference guide which can be found here:  https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/sites/files/oxlaw/oscola_4th_edn_hart_2012.pdf

(e) All pages must be numbered.

(f) You must count the words used (excluding the words used to write the footnotes and bibliography) and this must be declared honestly and accurately on your assignment. Failure to declare the words used will mean your work will not be marked and inaccurate declarations of words used will lead to disciplinary proceedings.

2. Submitting your Coursework

(a) All written assessments (unless otherwise directed by your module leader) must be produced and  submitted electronically through a ‘Turn-it-In’ submission box. The e-submission box will be located on your Module Blackboard space. Your module tutor will inform you where the precise location is.

(b) You must not write your name or ID number anywhere on your assignment because all work is marked anonymously.

(c) A UCLan assignment e- front-sheet must be attached to your work to enable summary comments to be made.

(d) You must submit ONE copy of your coursework only: an electronic submission via Blackboard (so we can verify submission, word counts and plagiarism and insert feedback via Grademark).

(e) Submissions should be uploaded to Turn-it-In in Word format only. It is not permitted to upload work to Turn-it-In in PDF format.

(e) We do not accept e-mail, faxed, or postal submissions of coursework.

(f) Try and submit your work well in advance of the deadline.

(g) If you have an authorised extension your work will not be penalised.

(h) If you submit your work late without an authorised extension, we will only accept it for marking up to 5 working days after the deadline and the work will be capped at 40%. PLEASE NOTE: unauthorised late submission at resubmission (i.e., a re-assessment) will automatically be awarded a mark of 0% for that element of assessment.

(i) All work submitted more than 5 working days after the agreed deadline (and without an authorised extension) will be awarded a 0% grade (except for resubmissions, where all late submissions are given zero unless and authorised extension has been given.

3. Results

(a) Individual feedback will be available within the 15 student working days (excluding holidays periods when the University is closed and weekends) after the first submission date (see School Assessment Schedule for dates).

(b) Your coursework will be returned via Grade-Mark on the turn-it-in platform by the feedback date stated on the assessment front cover sheet.

(c) All marks remain provisional until after the final examination board has met.