2019/20 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

LAW2680 Researching Law

10 creditsClass Size: 400

Module manager: Mr Craig Newbery-Jones
Email: C.J.Newbery-Jones@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

This module is mutually exclusive with

LAW2286

Researching Crime and Criminal Justice (for undergraduates)

Module replaces

LAW2284 Advanced Legal Research & Law Reform

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Objectives

This module forms an integral part of the student's research journey. It builds upon the skills developed and research training provided at Level One, by introducing and critically exploring different conceptual approaches to legal research. It does so by focusing on a small number of topics and debates within law, investigating them from a critical perspective. In so doing the module aims to enable students to develop a personal research skills toolkit in readiness for the final year project.

- to develop students' analytical and critical skills;
- to equip students with the ability to use a variety of sources in developing a convincing argument;
- to demonstrate a variety of approaches to researching law, including doctrinal, comparative, socio-legal and historical legal research;
- to equip students with the necessary skills to conduct legal research independently;
- to equip students with advanced research skills in using both bibliographic and electronic sources;
- to enable students to develop the necessary skills to formulate a viable research plan for their final year project;
- to equip students with the necessary skills to research, structure and write up their final year dissertation.

Learning outcomes
By the end of this module students will be able to:
- demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of different methodological approaches to legal research;
- formulate and design a research proposal;
- identify and use primary legal sources and secondary sources relevant to the topic under study;
- identify contemporary debates and engage with these as part of a research proposal;
- develop effective research strategies to identify and evaluate potential sources;
- synthesise and critically evaluate literature in the context of a research proposal;
- effectively present materials in both written and oral formats;
- demonstrate the ability to write reflectively.

Syllabus

What is a research problem and/or project?
What makes a good research project?
Methodological approaches to legal research
Using bibliographic databases (Online presentation and exercise
Literature searches
Research Ethics
What does it mean to be critical?
How to evaluate sources
Case analysis
Article analysis
Policy documents and Hansard
Quantitative and Qualitative Data
Using OSCOLA
Formulating research questions
The role of the literature review
The bigger picture: writing up your research
Writing with authority and legitimacy
The dissertation

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
On-line Learning	9	1.00	9.00
Workshop	5	1.50	7.50
Lecture	9	1.00	9.00
Private study hours			74.50
Total Contact hours			25.50
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

This module will make extensive use of blended learning, including employing the flipped classroom. The weekly hour set out for online learning will be used for podcasts introducing a topic to be discussed further in the seminars, or for online exercises enabling students to practice the relevant research skill and to assess their knowledge and proficiency in so doing. Students will use private study time to enhance their understanding and knowledge (through set reading, for example), which they will be expected to reflect upon in advance of lectures and during their seminars. This will include working together with other students in preparing a group presentation (which will take place in one of the seminars).

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Attendance of seminars.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Written Work	500-word reflective blog	20.00
Research Proposal	1 x 2,500-word research proposal	80.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/04/2019

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