LW360-6-SP-CO:
Legal Research

The details
2022/23
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 16 January 2023
Friday 24 March 2023
15
15 September 2022

 

Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)

 

(none)

Key module for

LLB M103 Law (Senior Status)

Module description

This module builds upon students elementary legal research skills to equip them to complete an extended essay covering some initially unfamiliar material.
Students will be presented with a choice of topics and questions to adopt as their final assessment, drawn from public law, criminal law and contract law, requiring independent development of their existing knowledge of law and its social application.

The differences between the various common legal research methods and their relative merits will be examined, including doctrinal, comparative and interdisciplinary approaches. Students will need to reflect upon the various available strategies for addressing their chosen question.

The module will also introduce students to the role of research in influencing policy, the various methods of presenting research findings, and effective strategies for structuring academic writing.

Module aims

The aims of the module are:

1. To enable the student to address a question that requires independent research

2. To encourage critical reflection upon the students own research; .

3. To allow students to understand the differences between research methodologies.

4. To allow students to understand the various applications of legal research.

5. To enable students to structure and communicate their research effectively.

Module learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module the student will be able to:

1. Produce a piece of independent written work that addresses a research question covering some initially unfamiliar material.
2. Select and apply an appropriate research methodology.
3. Utilise research methods to build further upon their existing understanding of legal issues.
4. Understand the different applications of research findings.
5. Communicate reflectively about their research processes.

Module information

The syllabus is:

* Legal research methodologies.
* Planning research.
* The social utility of research in law.
* Effective communication of research processes and findings.

Learning and teaching methods

This module is taught primarily via online tutorials which will cover key stages in the research process including choosing a research question, research method and writing up.

Bibliography

This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Presentation (LW360 Legal Research)    10% 
Coursework   Research Essay (LW360 Legal Research)    90% 

Exam format definitions

  • Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
  • In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
  • In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary, for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.

Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.

Overall assessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%

Reassessment

Coursework Exam
100% 0%
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Sahar Maranlou, email: s.maranlou@essex.ac.uk.
Dr. Sahar Maranlou, Dr. Mohammed Alshaleel
School of Law Administrators - lawschoolug@essex.ac.uk

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

Dr Thomas Pegram
University College London
Associate Professor
Dr Karen Mc Cullagh
University of East Anglia
Lecturer in Law
Prof Julia Shaw
De Montfort University
Professor of Law
Mr George Ellison
Derby Unioversity
Senior Lecturer in Law
Resources
Available via Moodle
Of 18 hours, 6 (33.3%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
12 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.

 

Further information
Essex Law School

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