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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: 964 9542 2953
Passcode: 763688

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 0125 March 202517:30 to 20:30hrsPresentation 01Request
Lecture 021 April 202517:30 to 20:30hrsPresentation 02Request
Lecture 038 April 202517:30 to 20:30hrsPresentation 03Request
Lecture 0429 April 202517:30 to 20:30hrs
Lecture 056 May 202517:30 to 20:30hrs
Lecture 0613 May 202517:30 to 20:00hrs
Lecture 0720 May 202517:30 to 20:00hrs
Self-Assessment30 May 202517:30 to 18:00hrs

Lecturer/s  

Dr Maria Ruth Ciantar

Dr. Julianne Meli

Lecture Summaries & Suggested Reading 

Lecture 1 - Notaries' Code of Ethics regulations Dr Maria Ruth Ciantar

Following this session students will be given:

  • The necessary knowledge on:
    • The recently introduced Notaries' Code of Ethics regulations.
    • What is the commitment to professional integrity and adherence to ethical considerations?
    • The legal implications and consequences associated with each type of notarial act?
    • What consists of an informed decision-making and effective problem-solving within the notarial practice?
    • How to Organise and plan the execution of notarial acts.
    • The proper documentation, preparation, and record-keeping required for each act.
    • How to show professionalism, competence, and conscientiousness in notarial practice.

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Xuereb, A. 2021. An Analysis into Key Aspects of the Notarial Profession in terms with Chapter 55 of the laws of Malta and the newly introduced Notaries’ Code of Ethics Regulations
  • Zammit , F. A., 2022. Responsibilities and liabilities of a notary public in Malta
  • Council of Europe, 2021. Code of Notary Ethics

 

Lecture 2 - What leads to the notary’s good reputation? Dr Maria Ruth Ciantar

Following this session students will be given:

  • The necessary knowledge on:
    • How to formulate a plan for addressing situations involving different kinds of notarial responsibility
    • How to arrange the office environment to promote transparency, accountability, and conscientiousness in notarial work
    • The significance of the Notary's ethics,
    • What are moral principles? rules of conduct? and values to guide professional behaviour?
    • How to enhance the reputation of notaries and ensure their accountability.

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Xuereb, A. 2021. An Analysis into Key Aspects of the Notarial Profession in terms with Chapter 55 of the laws of Malta and the newly introduced Notaries’ Code of Ethics Regulations
  • Zammit , F. A., 2022. Responsibilities and liabilities of a notary public in Malta
  • Council of Europe, 2021. Code of Notary Ethics
  • Aquilina, K., 2023. Due Diligence as a General Principle of Law

 

Lecture 3 - KYC, due diligence and anti-money laundering Dr Maria Ruth Ciantar

Following this session students will be given:

  • The necessary knowledge on:
    • What is KYC?
    • The knowledge about the responsibilities emerging from “know your client”, due diligence and anti-money laundering regulations
    • The Compilation and organise documents related to KYC, due diligence, and anti-money laundering internal processes.
    • How to Construct a comprehensive understanding of the responsibilities related to KYC
    • What is due diligence?
    • What is anti-money laundering?
    • What consists of the internal processes?
    • The meeting of deadlines? Any repercussions?
    • The essential theoretical knowledge required for assistants in notarial offices.
    • The role and responsibilities of notaries as impartial public officers.

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Xuereb, A. 2021. An Analysis into Key Aspects of the Notarial Profession in terms with Chapter 55 of the laws of Malta and the newly introduced Notaries’ Code of Ethics Regulations
  • Zammit , F. A., 2022. Responsibilities and liabilities of a notary public in Malta
  • Council of Europe, 2021. Code of Notary Ethics

 

Lecture 4 - Custody of documents and the role of the future notarial assistants Dr Maria Ruth Ciantar

Following this session students will be given:

  • The necessary knowledge on:
    • The interpretation of the legal regulations and procedures governing the reception of acts.
    • What are act inter vivos and Wills?
    • The custody and the attribution of public faith to acts.
    • A comprehensive understanding of the practical application of theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios within notarial offices.
    • Bridging the gap between theory and practice in the notarial field.
    • The practical skills necessary for the future role of an assistant in a notarial office.
    • How to encompass tasks such as receiving acts, maintaining custody, and ensuring the attribution of public faith.

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Xuereb, A. 2021. An Analysis into Key Aspects of the Notarial Profession in terms with Chapter 55 of the laws of Malta and the newly introduced Notaries’ Code of Ethics Regulations
  • Zammit , F. A., 2022. Responsibilities and liabilities of a notary public in Malta
  • Council of Europe, 2021. Code of Notary Ethics

 

Lecture 5 - Skills of the notary and the key elements of code of ethicsDr Maria Ruth Ciantar

Following this session students will be given:

  • The necessary knowledge on:
    • How to Construct an understanding of the importance of experiential learning opportunities in developing practical skills
    • How to be prepared for the challenges and responsibilities of working in a notarial office.
    • The key elements of the Notarial Code of Ethics.
    • The independence and impartiality of the notary.
    • What are the relevant legal procedures.
    • The ethical considerations and responsibilities associated with the notarial profession,
    • The code of ethics regulations and their practical application.
    • The communication and interpersonal skills necessary for engaging with clients, colleagues, and other stakeholders within the notarial practice.

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Xuereb, A. 2021. An Analysis into Key Aspects of the Notarial Profession in terms with Chapter 55 of the laws of Malta and the newly introduced Notaries’ Code of Ethics Regulations
  • Zammit , F. A., 2022. Responsibilities and liabilities of a notary public in Malta
  • Council of Europe, 2021. Code of Notary Ethics

 

Lecture 6 - The role of the Notarial Assistant Dr. Julianne Meli

Following this session students will be given insight on:

  • The core practical skills required for a notarial assistant
  • How does the assistant's role in receiving acts contribute to the office’s functioning
  • The importance of maintaining custody and managing records in a notarial office.
  • How can hands-on training help develop the practical skills necessary for the role?
  • How Notarial assistants can prepare for the pressures and legal obligations tied to their role
  • How Notarial assistants can manage stress or potential errors in high-stakes environments
  • What are the ethical responsibilities of an assistant working in a notarial office
  • The importance of confidentiality in the role of a notarial assistant.

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Xuereb, A. 2021. An Analysis into Key Aspects of the Notarial Profession in terms with Chapter 55 of the laws of Malta and the newly introduced Notaries’ Code of Ethics Regulations
  • Zammit , F. A., 2022. Responsibilities and liabilities of a notary public in Malta
  • Council of Europe, 2021. Code of Notary Ethics
  • Aquilina, K., 2023. Due Diligence as a General Principle of Law

 

Lecture 7 - Overcoming Ethical Challenges in the Notarial Profession Dr. Julianne Meli

Following this session students will be given insight on:

  • The importance of confidentiality and the legal consequences of breaching it.
  • How do notaries handle conflicts of interest, and what is their responsibility when they arise
  • The role of integrity and honesty in notarial duties.
  • Examples of situations where ethical regulations are put to the test in notarial practices.
  • Systems or tools can notaries use to ensure efficient record-keeping?
  • Legal requirements for document storage and retention in the notarial profession.
  • The role of technology in improving efficiency and compliance with notarial practices.
  • What challenges do notaries face in managing large volumes of documents, and how can they overcome these challenges

Core Reading List

Supplementary Reading List

  • Xuereb, A. 2021. An Analysis into Key Aspects of the Notarial Profession in terms with Chapter 55 of the laws of Malta and the newly introduced Notaries’ Code of Ethics Regulations
  • Zammit , F. A., 2022. Responsibilities and liabilities of a notary public in Malta
  • Council of Europe, 2021. Code of Notary Ethics
  • Aquilina, K., 2023. Due Diligence as a General Principle of Law

 

 

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 25 March 2025. The test sheet and answers will be provided in an additional 30-minute session, scheduled for 30 May 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, 10 July 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 uploaded 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