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Academy Documents

Kindly access the Students' Policies & Forms by clicking on the button below. The following documents, among others, can be found there: Student Handbook, Student Code of Conduct, Students' Privacy Notice, Deferral, Suspension, and Cancellation Policy, Assignment Extension Policy, Re-Sit Policy, Complaints Procedure Policy, Equality Policy, and Student Disciplinary Policy.

Students' Policies & Forms

Online Sessions Link

To join the online sessions for this module, please click on the button below. If you are not already signed in to your Zoom account, you will be prompted to register your attendance. You will also need to enter the password provided below.

Join Session

Meeting ID: 983 6444 9265
Passcode: 509195

Please ensure that your name and surname appear as registered for the study programme, as this is essential for recording your attendance.

 

Lecture Schedule & Notes

Lecture notes will be available during the week following the respective lecture. Schedule dates are indicative and may change. All changes, if any, may be communicated via email, SMS or telephone calls.

LectureDateTimePresentationNotes (If Any)Session Recording
Lecture 0110 December 202417:30 to 20:30hrsPresentation 01Request
Lecture 0217 December 202417:30 to 20:30hrsPresentation 02Request
Lecture 037 January 202517:30 to 20:30hrs
Lecture 0414 January 202517:30 to 20:30hrs
Lecture 0521 January 202517:30 to 20:30hrs
Lecture 0628 January 202517:30 to 20:00hrs
Lecture 074 February 202517:30 to 20:00hrs
Self-Assessment7 February 202517:30 to 18:00hrs

Lecturer/s  

Dr Maria Ruth Ciantar

Dr. Julianne Meli

Lecture Summaries & Suggested Reading 

Lecture 1 - Introduction to the Office of the Notary Dr. Julianne Meli

  • Provide an introduction to the office of the Notary and their role as a public officer within society.
  • Develop a comprehensive understanding of the functions of notaries, with a focus on their impartiality and neutrality in their duties.
  • Gain a thorough understanding of the legal requirements and procedures involved in receiving inter vivos acts and wills.
  • Introduce the various types of inter vivos acts and wills executed by the Notary.
  • Acquire knowledge of the proper procedures for the reception, custody, and attribution of public faith to inter vivos acts and wills.

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Mizzi, C., 2010. How far is the Notary Public a tax collector? (thesis)
  • Aquilina, K., 2023. Due Diligence as a General Principle of Law
  • Grech. L., 2021. Professional secrecy and confidentiality of the notary (thesis)
  • Debono, D., 2022. The process following the demise of a notary (thesis)

 

Lecture 2 - Legal Requirements to be adhered to during Drafting of Deeds and Wills Dr. Julianne Meli

  • Examine in greater detail the legal requirements outlined in the law that Notaries must follow when drafting contracts and wills.
  • Develop practical skills by managing and organizing inter vivos acts and wills, demonstrating proficiency in handling these documents with precision, attention to detail, and full compliance with legal standards.
  • Acquire the knowledge and expertise to address real-life scenarios, effectively managing a range of client requests and demands within the notarial context.

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Mizzi, C., 2010. How far is the Notary Public a tax collector? (thesis)
  • Aquilina, K., 2023. Due Diligence as a General Principle of Law
  • Grech. L., 2021. Professional secrecy and confidentiality of the notary (thesis)
  • Debono, D., 2022. The process following the demise of a notary (thesis)

 

Lecture 3 - Putting theory into Practice in the Notarial Context Dr. Julianne Meli

  • Plan and prepare for experiential learning opportunities by coordinating with relevant authorities and organizing materials to effectively apply theoretical knowledge in real-world notarial contexts.
  • Enhance communication and interpersonal skills through direct interactions with clients and colleagues in the notarial office, fostering professional and effective relationships.
  • Recognize the value of experiential learning opportunities in developing practical skills, understanding their critical role in preparing for a future position as an assistant in a notarial office.
  • Design and implement effective communication strategies to engage professionally and efficiently with clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders within the notarial office environment.

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Mizzi, C., 2010. How far is the Notary Public a tax collector? (thesis)
  • Aquilina, K., 2023. Due Diligence as a General Principle of Law
  • Grech. L., 2021. Professional secrecy and confidentiality of the notary (thesis)
  • Debono, D., 2022. The process following the demise of a notary (thesis)

 

Lecture 4 - Examination of Title

  • Acquire the skills necessary to determine the required verifications and identify the relevant documents and permits needed to complete various types of property transfers.
  • Demonstrate the ability to organize, arrange, and categorize client searches conducted on behalf of notaries.
  • Possess the capability to analyze search results and identify issues that must be addressed prior to the publication of contracts.
  • Develop practical solutions and propose improvements to optimize notarial processes, with a focus on enhancing efficiency, accuracy, and compliance with legal requirements.

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Mizzi, C., 2010. How far is the Notary Public a tax collector? (thesis)
  • Aquilina, K., 2023. Due Diligence as a General Principle of Law
  • Grech. L., 2021. Professional secrecy and confidentiality of the notary (thesis)
  • Debono, D., 2022. The process following the demise of a notary (thesis)

 

Lecture 5 - Practical Skills for a Notarial Office Assistant Dr. Julianne Meli

  • Apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios within the notarial context, demonstrating a clear understanding of its practical implications.
  • Develop practical skills by efficiently managing and organizing various types of contracts and overseeing their registration.
  • Recognize the importance of cultivating practical skills and understanding the significance of the future role as a notarial office assistant.
  • Enhance problem-solving abilities by applying theoretical principles to daily situations, enabling effective decision-making and the resolution of complex challenges encountered in the role of a notarial assistant.

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Mizzi, C., 2010. How far is the Notary Public a tax collector? (thesis)
  • Aquilina, K., 2023. Due Diligence as a General Principle of Law
  • Grech. L., 2021. Professional secrecy and confidentiality of the notary (thesis)
  • Debono, D., 2022. The process following the demise of a notary (thesis)

 

Lecture 6 - Maintenance of acts and interactions with the various stakeholders Dr Maria Ruth Ciantar

  • Organise the custody and maintenance of acts inter vivos and wills,
  • Ensuring the proper storage, security, and accessibility of acts as required by legal regulations.
  • Design and create effective communication strategies.
  • Improve communication and interpersonal skills through interactions with clients and colleagues within the notarial office setting, facilitating effective and professional interactions.
  • Ensuring the knowledge on who clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders may be
  • Interact professionally and efficiently with clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders within the notarial office environment.
  • Organise and manage the theoretical and practical knowledge gained from the study unit to effectively contribute to the reception, custody, and attribution of public faith to acts inter vivos and wills in a notarial office setting

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Mizzi, C., 2010. How far is the Notary Public a tax collector? (thesis)
  • Aquilina, K., 2023. Due Diligence as a General Principle of Law
  • Grech. L., 2021. Professional secrecy and confidentiality of the notary (thesis)
  • Debono, D., 2022. The process following the demise of a notary (thesis)

 

Lecture 7 - Role and responsibilities of notaries and the essential required skills Dr Maria Ruth Ciantar

  • knowledge regarding the disparities between the Jurisdiction of superior and inferior courts.
  • distribution of duties of judges.

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Mizzi, C., 2010. How far is the Notary Public a tax collector? (thesis)
  • Aquilina, K., 2023. Due Diligence as a General Principle of Law
  • Grech. L., 2021. Professional secrecy and confidentiality of the notary (thesis)
  • Debono, D., 2022. The process following the demise of a notary (thesis)

 

 

Methods of Assessment

Self-Assessment (20% of final grade): Students are required to complete a multiple-choice test during the first lecture of the module on 10 December 2024. The test sheet and answers will be provided in an additional 30-minute session, scheduled for 7 February 2025 at 17:30 hrs. Students will be expected to mark their own submissions.

Assignment (80% of final grade).

 

Assignment

You are required to choose one of the three questions available in the Assignment Submission Form made available by clicking the button below. The assignment must be submitted no later than Thursday, 8 Mayy 2025, along with the Assignment Submission Form. Please ensure that you indicate the question you have addressed on the Assignment Submission Form.

The Assignment Submission Form will be made available here at a later date.

For guidance on how to plan, draft, and submit your assignment, please refer to the 21 Academy presentation on Writing and Submitting Your Assignment by clicking the button below.

Writing and Submitting Your Assignment

We are also providing the 21 Academy's Assignments Rubric for your reference. This rubric is a performance-based assessment tool that tutors will use for grading, and it will help you understand the requirements of the assignment and how it will be assessed.

Assignments Rubric

For referencing purposes, please use the OSCOLA Referencing Guide available by clicking the button below.

OSCOLA Referencing Guide

Submitting Assignment - Turnitin

The Academy will notify you via email when the assignment questions become available. Shortly after, you will receive another email from Turnitin, likely on the same day, confirming your enrolment in a "class" where you can upload your assignment(s).

Please ensure that your assignments are submitted no later than 23:59 on the assignment submission deadline, as indicated on the Assignment Submission form or in the Turnitin "class."

At 21 Academy, you have the option to submit multiple drafts before the final submission deadline. The version uploaded at the deadline will be treated as your final submission for assessment. Please note that Turnitin evaluates the same assignment twice within a 24-hour period, so any additional submissions during this time will not be reviewed until the 24-hour period has passed. Ensure that your final submission does not exceed 20% similarity, particularly when using direct quotations.

Follow this very short video to understand how to submit your assignment through Turnitin

Submitting a Paper

To understand the similarity report generated by Turnitin follow this 1 minute video

Understanding the Similarity Report

 

Referencing Style

Law students should use the OSCOLA referencing style as it is the standard citation system for legal writing in Malta. It ensures consistency, accuracy, and clarity when referencing legal sources, which is essential for academic and professional work. The video below provides detailed guidance on how to reference using OSCOLA. Please also refer to the OSCOLA Referencing Guide by clicking the button below

OSCOLA Referencing Guide