LW517-7-AU-CO:
Legal Research and Academic Skills

The details
2024/25
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 13 December 2024
15
28 June 2023

 

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

 

(none)

Key module for

MPHDM10K48 Law,
PHD M10K48 Law

Module description

This module develops students’ academic and research skills required for PhD study of law. The module equips students to analyse sources of law, critically evaluate the development of law, engage with relevant secondary sources, and produce critical and independent writing on law. It will demonstrate different methodological research approaches within the field and enhance students’ understanding and skills required for PhD level studies in law.

Module aims

The aim of this module is:




  • To provide students with the skills required to analyse legal materials, produce high-quality independent writing at postgraduate level, and reflect on feedback.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:



  1. Understand how to identify, evaluate and fully reference primary and secondary sources in law.

  2. Understand how to plan and undertake PGR legal research using a variety of research skills including library and IT sources.

  3. Develop skills in how to write critically and evaluate legal writing.

  4. Compare different legal methodological approaches to academic research, understand the research ethics framework, and produce a critical piece of writing on current issues in law.

Module information

This module will run for 10 weeks during the Autumn term.


Indicative syllabus/contents:



  • Transitioning from PGT to PGR research: expectations/what is the difference?

  • Identifying sources of law and other resources: strengths and weaknesses, practical limitations of research

  • Digital research skills

  • Academic Integrity: academic conventions, identifying and referencing legal texts, and avoiding plagiarism

  • Legal research methodologies

  • Critical reading and analysis

  • Effective and structured academic writing skills

Learning and teaching methods

The module will be delivered via:

  • A weekly two-hour seminar and separate one hour tutorial session.

The seminar sessions will be taught using a variety of methods including some shorter lectures followed by group activities and interactive work.

Tutorial sessions will be used to engage in specific activities.

Bibliography*

(none)

Assessment items, weightings and deadlines

Coursework / exam Description Deadline Coursework weighting
Coursework   Critical writing with Literature Review (LW517-7-AU)    40% 
Coursework   Legal Referencing Activity (LW517-7-AU)    15% 
Coursework   Bibliography Activity (LW517-7-AU)    10% 
Practical   Presentation (LW517-7-AU)    25% 
Practical   Plagiarism task - MCQ (LW517-7-AU)    10% 

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

 

Availability
No
No
No

External examiner

No external examiner information available for this module.
Resources
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.

 

Further information
Essex Law School

* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.

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