Model for Undergraduate Personal Development Planning in the

Undergraduate Personal Development Planning in the School of Law What is Personal Development Planning? Put simply it is the process by which you will review, reflect and plan in relation to your personal and professional development during your time at LJMU. We’ll help you to gain learning skills, personal insight, experience and employment skills. PDP helps you to get the best out of university and gain the best opportunities for employment. It is also required in some form by most employers.

How will PDP help me? The School of Law/LJMU PDP support will help you to: • become more independent, confident and self-sufficient; • help you to plan and evaluate potentially useful work experience/voluntary work; • improve the skills you will need to study or prepare for employment and; • help you to take control of your future.

FAQs Is it important? Being at university is all about getting a degree isn’t it? Well yes, but PDP can help you to achieve what you are capable of. There are thousands of graduates - this could be what helps you to end up in a job fit for a LJMU School of Law graduate. Is there much work involved? I want to have a good time! So do we! But if you are prepared to put in a bit of effort, we’ll help you. It may bring out more than you think now and beyond your three years at LJMU.

st 1

year

October - personal tutor support in adjusting to university

nd 2

year

October - review 1st year with personal tutor – identify ways to improve ‘higher order’ research and writing skills

rd 3

November – 2nd and 3rd year guidance

November – Law Student Community - consider volunteering to be mentor/1st year seminar guide

year

October - seek personal tutor support in identifying potential destinations next year. Register for WoW Silver or Gold?

November – Law Student Community – volunteer to be mentor/1st year seminar guide

Adjust to studying at university

December /January review performance so far – study skills, self efficacy – plan of action in ILL ‘learning report’

Identify and develop your ‘higher order’ academic skills

November/December identify career targets e.g. complete WoW Bronze or Silver, apply for training contract, attend careers sessions

Identify remaining employment skills development opportunities – WoW/GDC

October/November – applications for PG study or identify applications process for places of work

Improve your self-awareness

January-March - Adjust study skills. Register and complete WoW Bronze – support from personal tutor

Obtain guidance from the ‘Law student Community’

February/March identify voluntary work/relevant work experience for summer

Begin the process of professional development – WoW, skills development and potential careers

Seek experience – voluntary work, workexperience and the Law Student Community

October/ December – identify career goals, advice from personal tutor?

October to March – fill in gaps in CV through work experience etc.

Easter or summer build up your CV relevant work or voluntary work experience

January – March – identify skills in need of development

Focus on academic achievement

End of year – review 1st year with personal tutor, identify strengths and weaknesses for year 2

Identify and take positive steps to chosen career/further study

October to March – aim to finalise development of employability skills – WoW certification and GDC short-courses

February to May – Focus on finals.

What PDP will I do in the 1st year? Complete a PDP core module where you will: • Learn about different styles of learning and which suits you best in university; • Meet with 2nd and 3rd years to get tips on writing law essays and to find out how they passed the 1st year; • Complete a review of your 1st semester performance and compare your experiences with ‘self-awareness literature’. Then discuss the outcomes with your personal tutor; • Attend meetings with your personal tutor to review your progress and plan for the future.

What PDP should I do in the second year? An important year for PDP – don’t miss any opportunities: • Volunteer to be a School of Law Hoodie/Mentor, deliver 1st year seminars; • Seek voluntary work/work experience; • Attend PDP meetings with your personal tutor; • Why not register at the GDC for the Bronze/Silver stages of WoW and/or shortcourses?; • Make PDP part of your studies - take one of the professional development modules.

Do we still do PDP in the final year? Yes, you need to look forward to getting a job or going on the further study! • Work with the GDC to identify destinations – your personal tutor may be able to help; • Evaluate your knowledge of your chosen career path; • Seek final skills development opportunities e.g. Mock interview at GDC; • Prepare a CV and have it evaluated at the GDC; • Seek internal and external careers events; • Seek further personal development through contributing to the Law Student Community.

Simon Brooman: Learning and Teaching Manager for the School of Law