Law School Module Details

The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title DISSERTATION
Code LAW540
Coordinator Dr A Chalabi
Law
A.Chalabi@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2021-22 Level 7 FHEQ Whole Session 60

Aims

To assess how well a student can research his or her chosen topic by locating relevant material.

To allow the student to demonstrate their ability to synthesise relevant material, to analyse it in a critical fashion and then to utilise it to construct their own original piece of research.

To permit a student to demonstrate their ability to express themselves in a clear, concise and logical fashion.


Learning Outcomes

(LO1) Demonstrate principles and techniques of advanced legal research;

(LO2) Show an understanding of the relevant social, economic, political, historical, philosophical, ethical, scientific and cultural contexts within which any chosen specialist area(s) of law operate(s);

(LO3) Be able to identify, locate and retrieve source legal materials in any chosen specialist area(s) of law, both in paper and electronic form;

(LO4) Be able to analyse, evaluate and interpret the principal source materials of any chosen specialist area(s) of law, including national statutes, national, European and international law reports, treaties, directives and other relevant materials as appropriate;

(LO5) Be able to apply legal knowledge to a practical situation and draw reasoned conclusions supported by legal authority;

(LO6) Be able to synthesise information from primary legal sources to achieve detailed knowledge and understanding of the law;

(LO7) Demonstrate advanced legal skills (e.g. critical analysis) necessary to reach a superior understanding of all chosen specialist areas of law, even if not previously studied at undergraduate level;

(LO8) Be able to understand and employ English, European and international legal terminology, both orally and in writing, to explain and convey technical legal information at an advanced level;

(LO9) Demonstrate capacity to work independently in planning, researching and completing an advanced research dissertation on a topic of their choice;

(LO10) Show ability to select and consider a topic for research;

(LO11) Be able to construct a coherent essay plan, in consultation with a Supervisor;

(LO12) Demonstrate capacity to conduct advanced research in the topic, using whatever methodologies are appropriate;

(LO13) Show ability to act upon a Supervisor's suggestions;

(LO14) Demonstrate capacity to write a coherent, well-structured, sustained analytical and critical Dissertation.

(S1) Critical thinking and problem solving - Critical analysis

(S2) Critical thinking and problem solving - Problem identification

(S3) Time and project management - Project planning

(S4) Time and project management - Project management

(S5) Personal attributes and qualities - Willingness to take responsibility

(S6) Improving own learning/performance - Personal action planning

(S7) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Presentation skills - written

(S8) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Academic writing (inc. referencing skills)

(S9) Critical thinking and problem solving - Synthesis

(S10) Communication (oral, written and visual) - Influencing skills – argumentation


Syllabus

 

The legal research training in semester 1 will be constituted by a range of sessions that include:

- Library/computer lab-based research skills workshop

- Avoiding Plagiarism / Academic Integrity course

- Case analysis, statute/treaty interpretation, and articlereview

- Citati on skills/OSCOLA

- Writing law assessments

- Negotiation exercise / debate exercise

The dissertation workshop addresses a range of administrative and procedural aspects related to the writing of the dissertation, as well as supervision arrangements.

The library training offers students advanced legal research skills.


Teaching and Learning Strategies

Online teaching using Zoom (synchronous sessions)

The synchronous sessions can be delivered either online or in a face-to-face setting, depending on the circumstances

Seminar activities (e.g. problem solving) for students to work through at home (asynchronous materials). This can be discussed at the end of synchronous sessions.

Dissertation element remains the same as in previous years, though the supervision meetings will be held online via Skype, Zoom etc


Teaching Schedule

  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours           2

8

32

42
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 558
TOTAL HOURS 600

Assessment

EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)
% of
final
mark
Resit/resubmission
opportunity
Penalty for late
submission
Notes
Online Multiple Choice Exercise on Avoiding Plagiarism There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is an anonymous assessment. Assessment Schedule (Whe  15 multiple choice q         
Dissertation There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is an anonymous assessment. Assessment Schedule (When) :Summer  12000-15000 words    90       
Annotated Research Plan There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is an anonymous assessment. Assessment Schedule (When) :Semester 1  2,000 words         

Recommended Texts

Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.

Other Staff Teaching on this Module

Mrs LA Hawksworth Library Lisa.Hawksworth@liverpool.ac.uk

Modules for which this module is a pre-requisite:

 

Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements):

 

Co-requisite modules:

 

Programme(s) (including Year of Study) to which this module is available on a required basis:

 

Programme(s) (including Year of Study) to which this module is available on an optional basis:

 

Additional Programme Information