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How to pass the OSCE on your first attempt
BY EVE DULLABH
The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) sounds formidable – and it’s no walk in the park. But the prize is dual qualification as the OCSE is the second of two QLTS assessments if you’re an international lawyer and want to practise English law.
To help, we’ll walk you through some hints and tips that address the key skills under the spotlight.
Candidates for examination are asked to apply each of 6 skills in the following 3 practice areas:
1. Business
2. Property and Probate.
3. Civil and Criminal Litigation.
Those legal skills are:
1. Client interviews
2. Completion of attendance notes/case analysis
3. Advocacy/oral presentation
4. Legal drafting
5. Legal research
6. Legal writing
Tips for doing client interviews
Assist your clients to identify their objectives – be as precise as possible. Collect information so clients can help decide how their aims can be achieved.
Be professional, competent, engaged and courteous so the client trusts you.
1. Welcome the client. Make sure they’re comfortable.
2. Explain your role.
3. Use open questions: encourage the client to explain the situation.
Advise, inform and consider the merits of the case including whether the results will justify the expense and risks. Inform the client about any commonplace problems that may occur, and the various possible outcomes.
4. Agree the service and explain the process.
5. Confirm timings and costs.
Tips for writing case notes
Follow this guide:
Facts
Focus on the materials (important) facts that you need to know in order to understand and summarise the case.
Issues
Set out the legal questions of law discussed in the case.
Judgments
How did the judge or judges reach the decision? How did they consider precedent, statute and/or policy? Was the judgment unanimous? Can you identify the ratio decidendi and any obiter dicta?
Impact
How does the judgment hold up? What was its impact? Would a different approach have been better?