Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

Students have to have taken and passed LAW8091 or LAW8152 before they can be admitted on LAW8099.

Co Requisite Comment

n/a

Aims

To demonstrate relevant research skills to carry out original research in a chosen area of the law; To acquire knowledge in a specialized topic, possibly outside of the scope of the taught modules; To carry out an advanced piece of independent research in a legal or legally relevant topic.

Outline Of Syllabus

In semester 3, after completion of LAW8090 (or as relevant LAW8152), the students will write a dissertation under the supervision of a member of staff with relevant subject-specific experience.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of:

How to organise their work in order to carry out research effectively;

How to carry out independent research, using relevant sources, including European, international and comparative materials where appropriate;

How to present their research findings in writing and, during supervision, orally;

How to carry through their dissertation proposal from LAW8089 to a completed piece of structured and independent legal research.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Subject specific skills:

• The ability to engage in problem-solving by identifying relevant legal issues, applying relevant concepts, principles and rules, making judgments and reaching conclusions supported by sound and informed reasoning.

• The ability to engage in reflection on the topic being studied.

• The ability to write, speak and think with precision and care in the synthesis and analysis of law.

•The ability to identify issues for legal research and consequently carry out that research using appropriate legal materials.

Cognitive skills:

• Further ability to find and synthesise legal materials from a wide variety of sources.

• Further ability to exercise critical judgment by distinguishing and discriminating between different possible legal arguments.

•Further ability to exercise skills of evaluation in making reasoned choices between competing solutions or arguments.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The dissertation is intended to give students the opportunity to conduct a substantial and largely independent project of postgraduate research. The level of supervision is therefore designed to ensure that students are given sufficient guidance to avoid fundamental errors of judgment, and that they can put into practice the sills of organizing their work, discovering and evaluating relevant materials, and presenting their findings in a structured and analytical manner. The dissertation also gives students the opportunity to acquire a body of specialized knowledge in their chosen topic.

The teaching methods have been adapted for delivery in the post-COVID environment and are based on the presumption that in person lectures, seminars and in-person drop-in sessions will be possible but that this shall need to be supplemented by making alternative arrangements under ‘FLEX’ in case of the possibility of more limited possibilities for on Campus teaching).

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The dissertation is intended to test the ability of students to conduct a substantial independent project of postgraduate research. It allows them to demonstrate their skills in organizing their work, discovering and evaluating relevant materials, and presenting their findings in a structured and analytical manner. It also allows them to demonstrate that they have acquired specialized knowledge in their area of research. Assessment of 100% on the dissertation is therefore appropriate.

General Notes

N/A