1. Identify and describe a contemporary issue in Law or Legal Practice, and formulate research questions which facilitate a critical response to the identified problem.
Knowledge and Understanding
Problem Solving

2. Select and justify the use of a research methodology appropriate to both the discipline and the research question(s)
Learning
Enquiry

3. Evaluate debates relating to the research topic within social, critical and other relevant contexts.
Analysis

4. Identify, select, deploy, interpret and synthesise a range of primary and secondary sources drawn from Law and related fields of study
Enquiry

5. Construct a sustained and coherent argument communicated clearly in writing which accurately and persuasively deploys the features of legal academic texts.
Communication

The research proposal will examine Learning Outcomes 1, 2 and 4

The dissertation is a substantial piece of independent legal research on a topic of the student’s choice relating to Law or legal practice. It will examine all the learning outcomes 1-5.

The Module has no prescribed syllabus, as the primary topic of the dissertation will vary from student to student, according to their research proposal, as moderated by the members of staff acting as supervisors. The chosen topic of interest by students must be relate to a law module and approved by the Dissertation Tutor and the allocated Supervisor.

The Module will cover:
Developing a workable legal research question
Formulating a research proposal
Researching and analysing primary and secondary sources.
How to write a literature review
Choice and justification of research methodology.
OSCOLA referencing
Advanced features of Word for managing a long document effectively

This Module allows students to undertake an independent legal research and critical writing, related subject that interests them under the supervision of a member of staff. The Module is structured so that students are required to present an assessed legal research proposal, which then provides the infrastructure for their Dissertation.

The Dissertation allows students to develop not only legal research and writing skills, but also the essential employability skills of independent working, time-management, communication and planning.

This a supervised module.

A live synchronous webinar will introduce the module.

The learning materials will be presented online for the first 3 weeks of the module, to provide students with a strong understanding of the requirements of the module, including research skills, how to formulate a research topic, and the structure of the final assessed document.

Learning materials will include support for advanced legal research strategies including legal and other academic databases.

A further webinar will be run to guide students as they prepare the first assessed element, the dissertation proposal.

After submission and assessment of the proposal in teaching block 1, students will work individually with their supervisors, and be able to organise a maximum of 5 feedback sessions. These can be a live online meeting or organised through written feedback, to suit the needs of the individual student. Students will be responsible for organising meetings and/or submitting draft written materials for feedback, in accordance with the timescales set by supervisors.

Lammasniemi, Laura. Law Dissertations A Step-by-Step Guide (Routledge 2018) Available as an e-book in the University Library (online)

McConville Mike and Chui Wing Hong, Research Methods for Law (Edinburgh University Press 2017)

G. Holborn, Butterworths Legal Research Guide (Butterworths 2001)

M. Salter and J. Mason Writing Law Dissertations: An Introduction and Guide to the Conduct of Legal Research (Longman 2007)

McCrudden, Christopher, Legal research and the social sciences (Sweet & Maxwell Ltd 2006)