Diploma in Professional Legal Practice PgDip
Advanced Civil Litigation (DPLP) LAW5002
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Law
- Credits: 15
- Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
- Typically Offered: Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: No
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
An elective course within the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice. The course follows on from the core Civil Litigation course and is designed to equip students with advanced professional skills for practising civil litigation in Scotland.
Timetable
7 x 1 hour lectures
8 x 2 hour tutorials
2 x 3 hour tutorials
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
Assessment
1. Tutorial preparation, performance and participation 20%
2. Debate Submission 40%
3. Written note of appeal 40%
Not available for reassessment
1: (20%).Tutorial. preparation, performance and participation
Main Assessment In: April/May
Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? No
It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.
[No exceptions]
Course Aims
The aims of the course are:
1. To provide students with an advanced understanding of the various systems of civil dispute resolution in Scotland;
2. To develop advanced analytical problem solving skills through a detailed examination of the civil remedies available in the Scottish courts;
3. To develop organisational and analytical skills by a detailed analysis of the purpose and format of written civil pleadings;
4. To develop the advanced oral advocacy skills necessary across a range of court hearings, such as motions, debates, proofs and appeals;
5. To develop skills of critical analysis skills to defend and attack written pleadings in a legal debate;
6. To develop the organisational skills required to prepare for, and the advocacy skills required to conduct, an evidential court hearing with witnesses.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
1. Compose fluent and concise written pleadings and know the purpose of different civil remedies available in the Courts;
2. Prepare written legal arguments, know when and how to debate the relevancy of a case, and know how to conduct a legal debate;
3. Use the oral advocacy skills required to prepare for and conduct an evidential hearing, to examine witnesses, to negotiate a settlement, and to make oral submissions to a Court;
4. Demonstrate a detailed and practical understanding of the process and mechanics of civil dispute resolution.