LW948-7-FY-CO:
Advanced Legal Research
2024/25
Essex Law School
Colchester Campus
Full Year
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 03 October 2024
Friday 27 June 2025
30
05 August 2020
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
MLAWM199 Law,
MLAWMA98 Law (Including Placement Year),
MLAWMA99 Law (Including Year Abroad)
The advanced legal research project or '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 MLaw course.
The topic will be approved by the academic supervisor and the postgraduate taught 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 aim of the module is to encourage the development of independent research, presentation and communication skills, the ability to set own goals and keep to working schedules and to facilitate in-depth and critical engagement of the legal issues in an extended formal piece of legal writing within the MLaw course. The module also aims to develop the ability to present legal arguments and opinions in relation to the chosen topic through library research, fieldwork or other relevant study.
The learning outcomes for the module are to:
1. Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the legal rules, concepts, models, principles and institutions in a chosen topic and be able to systematically discuss the legal, practical and, where relevant, business context in which they operate, including their benefits, limitations and challenges;
2. Demonstrate capacity to undertake independent legal research and selecting appropriate methodologies for investigating and critically evaluating relevant legal rules, principles, models and issues using research skills and theoretical perspectives;
3. Demonstrate 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;
4. Demonstrate 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
5. Demonstrate independent legal research and study skills, including multi-disciplinary research and use of library-based resources.
There is a common workshop provision on research methods. Students are then guided to choose a topic for their research project and so 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 postgraduate taught director.
Five weeks of the module will entail a 2-hour workshop covering advanced research skills, including advanced referencing, research design and writing skills. Students will be required to choose a research question by the end of week 10 and will be assigned an individual Academic Supervisor. Students will have supervision meetings with their Academic Supervisors throughout the spring and summer terms and note them in the Supervision Record Form. Information on learning and teaching methods and materials will be available on the module Moodle page.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
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
Of 6 hours, 6 (100%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
Essex Law School
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