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LAW00516 Advanced Advocacy

This unit is specifically aimed at students who will in their practice anticipate involvement in appearing in courts as an advocate. Whilst some solicitors may not appear in court, nevertheless the skills of persuasion by written and oral argument in court are useful in many other legal contexts. The unit will be taught with an emphasis on the acquisition and practice of courtroom skills up to District Court level.

Ralph James - Unit Assessor

Ralph was admitted as a Solicitor in 1981, having previously been a Clerk in the Supreme Court of New South Wales and Family Court of Australia. For 30 years Ralph has been engaged in legal practice, mostly in Criminal Law advocacy, and in 1993 was accredited by the Law Society of NSW as a Specialist in Criminal Law. Ralph is a member of the Legal Aid Commission (NSW) Court of Criminal Appeal Panel (since 2005) and the Law Society of New South Wales Criminal Law Committee (since 2007). Ralph has appeared as an advocate for the Department of Public Prosecutions, Legal Aid, the Aboriginal Legal Service as well as in private practice. He has undertaken research and education in various capacities including for the Crown, for the accused and for Southern Cross University.

Ralph has been a casual lecturer at Southern Cross University's School of Law and Justice for the past 13 years.

Further information

Updated: 02 March 2012