| Unit name | Independent Research Project |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAWD30137 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Professor. Phillipson |
| 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) |
None |
| 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 IRP, taken by all final year students, is an in-depth piece of legal research with individual, one-to-one supervision. You choose a topic from a large range offered by academic staff or come up with your own. It’s an opportunity to both showcase and further develop the skills you’ve been building up throughout your degree: independent research; critical analysis; building and structuring a sustained argument. For this reason, such Units are highly valued by employers. Many students find such projects one of their most rewarding academic experiences, as their ideas develop, their interest deepens, and they build confidence in working independently. It’s a different experience of teaching and learning: you build up your project, but get individual feedback at every stage – on reading, your initial thoughts on scope and structure; a detailed written plan and finally a draft chapter. This structured support helps many students produce their very best work.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
Taking place in the final semester of your final year, the IRP is the culmination of your undergraduate studies. It gives you the opportunity to go into real depth in an area you’ve discovered earlier in the course or haven’t yet had the opportunity to explore. Coming in your last semester, it will enable you to pull together into one piece of work all the skills, know-how and experience you’ve gained in your degree. Writing a more substantial paper will enable you to demonstrate everything you’ve learned during your studies about research, analysis, critical thinking, clear writing and well-structured argument.
An overview of content
Through lectures on designing and undertaking a research project, including research methodologies, tips on advanced writing and referencing skills you will further hone the abilities required to produce a sustained piece of legal research. Lectures will be supplemented with small-group, supervisor-led sessions, in which you will refine and test your ideas and plans. You will also get individual feedback on your research and writing, which you will discuss, one-to-one with your supervisor. You will also have opportunities to meet for group writing sessions to foster community and build shared experience.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
The IRP will develop students’ academic freedom and confidence within a focused area of law, inducting them further into the community of practice shared by academic and practicing lawyers. As appropriate for a final-semester Unit, students must take greater independence and responsibility for their learning , and it will help you enhance your time management, self-motivation and legal writing skills. Students find a sense of pride and greater self-confidence from building up their ability to work independently and explore a topic in real depth.
Learning Outcomes
Students will learn through a combination of lectures delivered to the whole cohort which will outline how to approach an independent research project. These will focus on subjects such as advanced legal research skills, different research methodologies, advanced writing and referencing skills and time management. Students will also take part in small-group sessions with their supervisor and peers exploring the same topic, in which they will hone their ideas and reflect on the scope of their project. Students will have two individual meetings with their supervisor to discuss their written plan and consider the detailed, individual feedback on their draft chapter, which should be incorporated into the final piece of work. Students may also benefit from peer support and peer review in structured group writing sessions.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
You will take part in small group meetings with your supervisor and other students working on research projects based on the same topic. In one of these, you will present your initial plan and receive feedback from your supervisor and peers. You will also submit a written plan (300 words) on which you will receive oral feedback from your supervisor. You will submit a draft of a chapter or excerpts of your draft (1500 words in total) on which you will receive individual written feedback, and a session in which to discuss it. Students will also have the ability to discuss their work in their supervisor’s office hours.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
1x 5000 word coursework essay (100%, assesses all ILOs) at the end of TB2.
When assessment does not go to plan
When a student fails the Independent Research Project and is eligible to resubmit, a revised version of the original Independent Research Project will be reassessed. Where the student is required to take a supplementary year, a new topic and title must be chosen.
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. LAWD30137).
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.
