| Unit name | Dissertation and Legal Research Skills |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAWDM0177 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Miss. Powley |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None. |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
Check your programme requirements. |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None. |
| School/department | University of Bristol Law School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The LLM Dissertation is the ‘capstone’ unit for LLM programmes. It is where students develop and demonstrate their expertise in issues studied at LLM level, by designing and delivering an extended research project, on a title selected by them.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
The skills development element of the LLM Dissertation builds throughout the academic year. The material in Teaching Block 1 develops legal and research skills. Teaching Block 2 focuses on the selection of a topic and the design of a project of the appropriate depth. The dissertation is normally researched (in detail) and written after completion of the May/June assessment of the Teaching Block 2 taught units.
An overview of content
LLM candidates are required to submit a 12,000 word dissertation after the assessment of their taught units. You will select your own topic in discussion with tutors - either building upon something already studied or exploring something new, related to your taught units. An indicative list of suggested titles is provided to support you in making your choice. Supervisors will support you in developing your research and writing skills through this process. Research training is provided to students throughout the year, with an intensification in the summer, after the end of the assessment period.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
The dissertation allows students to develop and demonstrate research skills These are skills associated with finding and selecting legal and non-legal materials. It also allows students to develop and demonstrate other skills with which they are already familiar – skills of analysis, synthesis, critical judgment and evaluation and written communication.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the unit, a successful student will be able to:
The LLM Dissertation unit builds from introductory research skills delivered by way of interactive lecture in TB1 to focused skills sessions in TB2, which work towards the selection of a topic for independent research. After the conclusion of the assessment in TB2 taught units, the dissertation becomes the primary focus of your work on the LLM programme. You will attend a mixture of cohort-wide lectures and workshops and one-to-one supervision supporting the development of the title into a plan, and then to a sustained piece of academic writing. The LLM Dissertation gives you considerable freedom to be actively involved in the design of the final project. The sessions are therefore tailored to support you at key moments of the process, but also to give you space to make their own choices
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
There are multiple opportunities for students to receive feedback throughout the dissertation process. You will be asked to submit a one-page plan, to discuss with your supervisor in the first supervision session, and then submit a piece of written work, later in the dissertation process, either as an extended plan or a draft chapter (of up to 20% of the total word limit). This will be returned to you with written and oral feedback, normally as part of a supervision meeting.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
One 12,000 word dissertation. This assessment will cover all Intended Learning Outcomes for this unit.
When assessment does not go to plan:
Ordinarily, students who fail and are eligible for reassessment will resubmit a revised version of the original submission.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. LAWDM0177).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
