Module overview
The Legal Research course is a compulsory final year unit. It is examined through the creation of a research proposal on a topic of your choice. The module builds on the research skills you have developed during your degree programme and provides you with a vehicle to evidence to employers your legal and transferable skills. There will be lectures on approaches to legal research and writing, advice on research tools, and guidance on how to approach formulating a research proposal. If you so choose, you can go on to select the Legal Writing optional module in the second semester and write up your proposal into a dissertation with advise from a member of staff.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- utilise written communication;
- demonstrate capacity for independent learning.
- develop, explore, refine and justify your personal views on a research problem;
- self-manage (e.g. time management);
- plan and carry out thorough research in your chosen area of law;
- critically analyse, problem analysis and problem solving;
- identify, locate and evaluate primary and secondary source material;
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- the relevant primary and secondary legal sources for your chosen topic/field (including assessing the strengths and weaknesses of different types of legal research);
- a demonstrable understanding of the area in question (c/f summary of the marking criteria provided to students in the module handbook);
- the issues raised within your chosen field, the possibilities of/for resolution, and their significance.
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- formulate original ideas (i.e. ideas not simply reliant on those already available in the literature or from teaching staff);
- sustain a clear and persuasive argument, showing understanding, critical awareness, independent thought and appropriate use of the concepts and sources;
- develop a clear and coherent framework of analysis;
- communicate effectively your views in writing.
Syllabus
The module comprises a combination of a taught element (delivered through lectures and workshops) and students' individual research.
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
Teaching will be by way of a series of lectures and workshops, supplemented by students' independent research.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Independent Study | 106 |
| Workshops | 6 |
| Assessment tasks | 30 |
| Lecture | 8 |
| Total study time | 150 |
Assessment
Assessment strategy
Assessment will be by a piece of summative coursework which is the creation of a 1500 word research proposal on a topic of your choice. This will be 100% of your grade for this module.Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Research poster | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Research poster | 100% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Research poster | 100% |