LC4S084 - Research Methodologies for Law 01 Sep 2022 - 31 Aug 2028 | Version 3

Associated Module Information

Module Code: LC4S084
Module Title: Research Methodologies for Law
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Law
Faculty Sub Group: Law
Module Leader: Iain Hammett, Pierre De Gioia Carabellese
Module Team: Holly Evans, Hannah Menard, Rachel Thomas
First Intended Intake: SEP 2022 Final Year of Intake: 2027
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100485 - law
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 3
Valid From 01 Sep 2022
Valid To 31 Aug 2028

Module Aims

To develop students’ knowledge of, and ability to utilise, appropriate legal (and other) research methodologies in order to underpin autonomous learning at a high level, encouraging the student to engage with legal resources in a critical, well-informed manner.

Content Summary

• Overview of methods, techniques and terminology
• Doctrinal legal scholarship
• Socio-legal scholarship
• Legal research and the social sciences
• Comparative legal research
• Theoretical approaches to legal research
• Quantitative research
• Qualitative research
• Research methodologies in EU and international law
• Legal research in the humanities
• Law and anthropology

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 20
Seminar 20
Independent Study 160
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Evidence critical articulation into an issue relating to the identification and use of research methodologies appropriate to particular types of legal research.
LO2 Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of legal and other research methodologies and their practical and ethical implications.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Oral Assessment Oral Assessment (Internally assessed, Onsite) 1 A viva voce-style examination based on a dissertation proposal previously submitted. A live presentation followed by questions from staff and fellow students. 15 N/A 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Essay 1 A critical essay on an issue pertaining to the scholarship regarding the choosing and utilising of various legal research methodologies. 0 2000 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Oral Assessment (Internally assessed, Onsite) 1
Essay 1

Reading List

This will vary depending on the subject area but see below generic texts that will support students:
Finch, E. and Fafinksi, S., Legal Skills, OUP
Allbon, E., Hunter, I. and Clinch, P., Legal research: a practitioner’s handbook, Wildy, Simmonds & Hill
Hoffman, M. and Rumsey, M., International and foreign legal research a coursebook, Martinus Nijhoff
J. Paul Lomio, J., Spang-Hanssen, H. and Wilson, G.D., Legal Research Methods in a Modern World : A Coursebook, DJØF
Joyner, R.L., Rouse, W.A. and Glatthorn, A.A. Writing the Winning Dissertation, Sage
Salter, M. and Mason, J. Writing law dissertations: an introduction and guide to the conduct of legal research, Pearson
Bell, J. Doing your research project: a guide for first-time researchers, McGraw-Hill Education
Phillips, E. and Pugh D.S., How to get a PhD: a handbook for students and their supervisors, Open University Press
Hart, C, Doing a literature review: releasing the research imagination, SAGE