This is a major piece of work to be carried out on an individual basis. The aim of the Dissertation is to allow you to extend and unify your understanding of your chosen subject as developed in the underlying modules. The production of the Dissertation is supported by an academic supervisor, who will help you develop your ideas.

It is envisaged that the Dissertation will focus on a particular legal topic in Law, considered relevant and approved by the Law School Dissertation Director in consultation with the student and subject supervisor.

In particular, students will define the research problem and objectives, formulate a research design, organise their research activity, review the literature relevant to the chosen topic, analyse materials and produce the written dissertation.

The focus of this award is on independent directed study.

This dissertation will be a piece of independent research, amounting to 15,000 words, carried out by the student under the supervision of a suitable qualified member of the Law School. Students will be expected to make regular contact with their supervisors as appropriate.

A dissertation (15,000 words) weighted at 100% assessing learning outcomes (1-5) contextualised to the specific Award

Access to appropriate texts and material via the Moodle LMS

• A Bryman, SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS (OUP, Oxford, 4th edn, 2013)
• J Holland & J Webb, LEARNING LEGAL RULES: A Student’s Guide to Legal Method and Reasoning (OUP, Oxford, 8th edn)
• WC Booth, GG Colmb, JM Williams, THE CRAFT OF RESEARCH (University of Chicago Press, 3rd edn: 2008)

It is expected that students would normally have completed ‘Legal Research Methodology’ (LAWS72000) or equivalent

1. JUSTIFY AND INTEGRATE THE APPROPRIATE RESEARCH PARADIGMS, METHODS AND PROCESSES WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF A SMALL SCALE LAW RESEARCH STUDY
Knowledge & Understanding
Enquiry

2. DEVELOP, IMPLEMENT AND MANAGE AN INDEPENDENT PROGRAMME OF EXTENDED LAW RESEARCH, EVIDENCING AN IN-DEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF ETHICAL CONCERNS AND ADVANCED SCHOLARSHIP Learning
Reflection

3. CRITICALLY ANALYSE AND SYNTHESISE MATERIAL FROM MANY SOURCES (ACADEMIC AND PRACTICAL) TO ASSIST YOUR WORK AND TO CLARIFY THE LAW PROBLEM(S) UNDER INVESTIGATION Analysis
Application

4. DEMONSTRATE ORIGINALITY IN THE APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING TO NEW OR EXISTING COMPLEX LAW PROBLEMS
Application
Problem-Solving

5. COMMUNICATE IN A STRUCTURED WRITTEN FORMAT APPROPRIATE TO THE PRESENTATION OF A MASTERS DISSERTATION
Communication
Learning
Reflection