Legal Research and Writing Skills
| Module title | Legal Research and Writing Skills |
|---|---|
| Module code | LAWM189 |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Richard Bowyer (Convenor) Dr Louise Loder (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | 130 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching | 20 | 10 x 2-hour weekly interactive seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 100 | 10 x 10 hours seminar preparation |
| Guided Independent Study | 30 | Preparation of formative and summative assessments |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 500 words | 1-6 | Written feedback |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 100 | 2500 words | 1-6 | Written feedback |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio (2500 words) | Portfolio (2500 words) | 1-6 | Referral/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)
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
