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Study information

Legal Research and Writing Skills

Module titleLegal Research and Writing Skills
Module codeLAWM189
Academic year2024/5
Credits15
Module staff

Dr Louise Loder (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

11

Number students taking module (anticipated)

100

Module description

Legal Research and Writing Skills is a module designed to equip you with academic skills relevant to the study of law at postgraduate level. You will study a range of contemporary approaches to legal research and writing, and learn about effective strategies in the use of sources. The module does not require or expect previous experience of researching and writing about law, and is suitable for all students on postgraduate programmes and pathways where there is a law element to the programme.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to provide you with a strong foundation in legal research and writing skills, including practical advice on navigating and using legal and academic resources, and opportunities for critical reflection on research methodologies. The module also aims to reinforce and embed your awareness of conventions associated with successful academic writing. You will learn about assessment criteria commonly used within postgraduate law programmes, and how to interpret those criteria to maximise your attainment. The module also aims to provide you with opportunities to evaluate your own work against accepted standards of academic writing.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. Explain different approaches and methodologies in legal research and writing, and evidence some of these approaches in your own work.
  • 2. Evaluate your own academic writing against identified criteria and other standards of effective academic writing.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 3. Critically evaluate the validity and authority of different legal and academic sources.
  • 4. Demonstrate adherence to conventions on academic honesty, authorship, ethics, and the use of technologies.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 5. Demonstrate effective and accurate written communication skills.
  • 6. Work independently to complete a specified task.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

  • Introduction to legal systems
  • Sources of law
  • Academic and other secondary sources
  • Academic honesty and the use of technologies
  • Assessment criteria and attainment
  • Research methodologies
  • Legal academic writing
  • Critical note-making
  • Editing and proof-reading
  • Reflective academic practice

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
201300

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching2010 x 2-hour weekly interactive seminars
Guided Independent Study10010 x 10 hours seminar preparation
Guided Independent Study30Preparation of formative and summative assessments

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Written exercise500 words1-6Written feedback

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Portfolio1002500 words1-6Written feedback

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Portfolio (2500 words)Portfolio (2500 words)1-6Referral/Deferral period

Re-assessment notes

  • Alisdair Gillespie and Siobhan Weare, The English Legal System (9th edn, OUP 2023)
  • Emily Finch and Stefan Fafinski, Legal Skills (9th edn, OUP 2023)
  • Imogen Moore and Craig Newbery-Jones, The Successful Law Student: An Insider’s Guide to Studying Law (2nd edn, OUP 2022)
  • James Holland and Julian Webb, Learning Legal Rules: A Students’ Guide to Legal Method and Reasoning (11th edn, OUP 2022)
  • Scott Slorach, Judith Embley, Peter Goodchild and Catherine Shephard, Legal Systems & Skills: Learn, Develop, Apply (5th edn, OUP 2023)
  • Raymond Wacks, Understanding Jurisprudence: An Introduction to Legal Theory (6th edn, OUP 2020)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

  • Alisdair Gillespie and Siobhan Weare, The English Legal System (9th edn, OUP 2023)
  • Emily Finch and Stefan Fafinski, Legal Skills (9th edn, OUP 2023)
  • Imogen Moore and Craig Newbery-Jones, The Successful Law Student: An Insider’s Guide to Studying Law (2nd edn, OUP 2022)
  • James Holland and Julian Webb, Learning Legal Rules: A Students’ Guide to Legal Method and Reasoning (11th edn, OUP 2022)
  • Scott Slorach, Judith Embley, Peter Goodchild and Catherine Shephard, Legal Systems & Skills: Learn, Develop, Apply (5th edn, OUP 2023)
  • Raymond Wacks, Understanding Jurisprudence: An Introduction to Legal Theory (6th edn, OUP 2020)

Key words search

Legal research, academic writing, research ethics, academic skills

Credit value15
Module ECTS

7.5

Module pre-requisites

None

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

7

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

1/2/2024

Last revision date

1/2/2024