LW627-7-PS-CO:
Dissertation: Law and Technology
2024/25
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Spring & Summer
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 27 June 2025
60
07 March 2024
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
LLM M1J912 Law and Technology,
LLM M1J924 Law and Technology
The dissertation is an independent and research-led piece of work under the guidance of an academic supervisor. Students are to undertake an individual research programme and apply appropriate methodologies on a topic within the scope of the LLM in Law and Technology course.
The topic will be approved by the academic supervisor and the PGT Director and provides an opportunity to develop and display an extensive knowledge of the law and, drawing on applicable legislation, case law and scholarly works, to engage in critical evaluation and analysis of relevant legal issues.
The aims of this module are:
- to encourage the development of independent research, presentation and communication skills;
- to encourage the the ability to set own goals and keep to working schedules;
- to facilitate in-depth and critical engagement of the legal issues in an extended formal piece of legal writing within the LLM in Law and Technology course;
- to develop the ability to present legal arguments and opinions in relation to the chosen topic through library research, empirical research or other relevant study.
By the end of the module, students will be expected to:
- Have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the legal rules, concepts, models, principles and institutions in a chosen topic for law and technology, and be able to systematically discuss the legal and practical context in which technologies operate, including their benefits, limitations and challenges;
- Have the capacity to undertake independent legal research and selecting appropriate methodologies for investigating and critical evaluating relevant legal rules, principles, models and issues using research skills and theoretical perspectives;
- Have the ability to identify, and evaluate critically, large and complex amounts of legal data from more than one source, or jurisdiction, and to apply legal data to specific facts and deduce likely outcomes where the law is indeterminate;
- Have the ability to identify, select and organise materials and produce coherent and convincing arguments and to engage in critical thinking and academic debates using persuasive, effective and appropriate written communication skills; and
- Have independent legal research and study skills, including multi-disciplinary research and use of library-based resources.
Indicative syllabus
The syllabus will be determined on an individual basis for each student. The dissertation topic will be subject to approval by both the academic supervisor and the PGT Director.
There will be a 2-hour essay dissertation workshop. Each student will be assigned to an Academic Supervisor.
Students will have supervision meetings with their Academic Supervisors and note them in the Supervision Record Form. Information and resources will be made available on the module Moodle page
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
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
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
No
No
No
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
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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