LAWS 7062 Legal Research Dissertation

Credit Points 20

Legacy Code 201074

Coordinator Rehan Abeyratne Opens in new window

Description This is a 20-credit point subject. This subject provides students with a capstone research experience in relation to a supervised legal dissertation. Students develop and refine legal research and writing skills by analysing a legal topic chosen in consultation with an academic supervisor. This subject requires the student to undertake a literature review, to develop a research proposal, to present on the proposal and finished work, and to submit a dissertation. The research project areas will principally focus upon those areas identified by the School of Law in its Research Strategy.

School Law

Discipline Law, Not Elsewhere Classified.

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

Check your fees via the Fees page.

Level Postgraduate Coursework Level 7 subject

Pre-requisite(s) LAWS 7027

Restrictions

Students must be enrolled in 2826 Juris Doctor or 2824 Master of Laws to enrol in this subject. 

Students in 2826 Juris Doctor must have completed 160 credit points before they can enrol in this subject. 

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  1. Evaluate the theories and real-life issues relevant to legal practice in Australia;
  2. Conduct a legal research project;
  3. Communicate the results of a legal research project to peers and other legal professionals in oral and written forms in a professional manner;
  4. Reflect on own learning and professional development needs.

Subject Content

- research proposal
- ethics
- research Protocol and design
- data collection
- data analysis
- logical argument

Special Requirements

Legislative pre-requisites

Special requirements would depend on research topic and would be assessed on a case by case basis.

Essential equipment

Special requirements would depend on research topic and would be assessed on a case by case basis.

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.

Type Length Percent Threshold Individual/Group Task
Proposal 1,500 words (not including substantive footnotes or bibliography) S/U Y Individual
Presentation 15 minutes S/U Y Individual
Presentation 30 minutes S/U Y Individual
Thesis 10,000 to 12,000 words 100 Y Individual

Prescribed Texts

  • Terry Hutchinson, Researching and Writing in Law (Thomson Reuters, 4th ed, 2018).
  • Margaret Davies, Asking the Law Question (Thomson Reuters, 4th ed, 2017).