This unit is designed to prepare students appear as an advocate in the magistrate's court on behalf of the Department of Police and Emergency Management. The unit includes instruction on legal literacy and research skills, court etiquette, written and oral advocacy and on being an ethical advocate.

Students are first introduced to essential skills in conducting legal research and solving legal problems. They will study the formal structure of legislation and cover basic principles of statutory interpretation. Students will also become familiar with the structure of court decisions and consider formal rules relating to citing statute and cases in court. Following this, students will embark on their study of advocacy. They will consider the basic rules and principles of being an advocate, including the etiquette and ethics of appearing in court. They will study the skills of conducting summary trials and associated applications in the magistrate's court, including: trial preparation; opening and closing addresses; the stages of evidence and making oral and written submissions.

Each aspect of this unit is building towards the students' attendance at a one week advocacy intensive that is conducted in the final week of the unit. It is here that the skills learnt will be practised and assessed. Students will participate in a range of 'moot' activities in a simulated courtroom, including conducting bail oppositions, leading evidence and cross-examination, making oral submissions and preparing written submissions. During this week, students will receive practical instruction, guidance and feedback from course lecturers, as well as a range of experienced legal practitioners and judicial officers.