LC3S310 - Contemporary Legal Research 01 Sep 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: LC3S310
Module Title: Contemporary Legal Research
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Law
Faculty Sub Group: Law
Module Leader: Alexandra Dobson, Hannah Coburn
Module Team: Clare Lewis, Ismail Makda, Tassadaq Hussain, Wai Mo, Anssa Amin, Holly Evans
First Intended Intake: SEP 2022 Final Year of Intake: 2027
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 6
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100485 - law
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

The module will enable the student to study an area of law (or a subject of legal significance) and to produce a written project.

The module will provide a basis for study for students to;

1. Develop intellectual curiosity and academic rigour and to develop proficiency in the analysis, evaluation and synthesis of contemporary legal issues.
2. Engage with opportunities to improve written communication skills.
3. Build on the research, analytical, evaluative and critical skills acquired by the student in the earlier stages of their study.

Content Summary

There is no taught content. Instead, students will either be required to;
• complete an assignment set by the module tutor on a topical legal issue that has not been studied as part of the degree programme due to its recency e.g. new legislation or legal issue.
Or
• complete an assignment based on a research question of the student’s choice. The research question will be subject to approval by an independent panel and the student may be required to resubmit or to complete the assignment set by the module tutor above.
Or
• Take part in the Legal Advice Clinic’s policy clinic. This will appeal to students who want to focus on law reform and a more practical emphasis than traditional doctrinal research. This research method aims to deepen a student’s understanding of the law as they learn not just about the legal framework but also how law is made.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Project supervision 10
Independent Study 100
Directed Study 80
Formative Assessment - Independent 10
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Evidence detailed research into a law-related subject with a doctrinal or practical emphasis;
LO2 Evidence a structured and sustained analysis and critique of the subject-matter of the study and communicate defensible conclusions or reform proposals arrived at via research;

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 Individual Coursework 0 4000 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Essay 1

Reading List

Law Dissertations: A Step by Step Guide, Laura Lammasniemi, 2018, Taylor and Francis