• E4J University Module Series: Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

• Module 3: Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Proceedings

• Introduction and learning outcomes

• Key issues

• • Key terms
  • Topic 1.  Introduction to the international standards and norms
  • Topic 2.  Identifying the need for legal aid, and the benefits and costs of legal aid
  • Topic 3.  Key components of the right of access to legal aid
  • Topic 4.  Access to legal aid for those with specific needs
  • Topic 5.  Models for governing, administering and funding legal aid
  • Topic 6.  Models for delivering legal aid services
  • Topic 7.  Roles and responsibilities of legal aid providers, and other criminal justice officials
  • Topic 8.  Quality assurance and legal aid services
  • Summary
  • References

• Exercises

• Case studies

• Possible class structure

• Core reading

• Advanced reading

• Student assessment

• Additional teaching tools

• Guidelines to develop a stand-alone course

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• First published in January 2019
  

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  This module is a resource for lecturers  

 

Possible class structure

 

This section contains recommendations for a teaching sequence and timing intended to achieve learning outcomes through a three-hour class. The lecturer may wish to disregard or shorten some of the segments below in order to give more time to other elements, including introduction, icebreakers, conclusion or short breaks. The structure could also be adapted for shorter or longer classes, given that the class durations vary across countries.

• Pre-class activity: (1) Assign the pre-class reading, and (2) give the pre-class case study to the students. Ask the students to do the pre-class reading, then read the pre-class case study and, based on their pre-class reading, be ready to answer the questions and discuss the issues raised by the case study in class.
• Review of pre-class case study: The lecturer should nominate students to answer one or more of the questions, and encourage consideration and discussion of: (a) the meaning of 'legal aid'; (b) what role might be performed by the lawyer at the police station and trial stages; (c) what difference a lawyer might make; and (d) whether any of the answers might differ if the offence was more serious and/or the suspect was in pre-trial detention. [30 minutes]
• Lecture on criminal legal aid in the home country: The lecturer should give a 'mini-lecture' on criminal legal aid in the home country, covering: how it is governed and administered, how it is delivered, and the key elements identified in Topic 3. [30 minutes]
• Discussion: The lecture should be followed by a class discussion of how the home country's system compares with the standards set by the UNPG. [15 minutes]
• Group exercise: Conducted according to the Lecturer guidelines and enabling the students to read the posters and discuss the issues raised. [45 minutes]
  
• Case study: Conducted according to the Lecturer guidelines. [45 minutes]
• Lecturer review of Module: The lecturer should review the major learning points arising from the Module. [15 minutes]
• Assignment of any further reading and student assessment

 

Next: Core reading

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