| 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 | Dr. Collins |
| 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 you will develop and demonstrate your expertise in issues studied at LLM level, either by designing and delivering an extended individual research project or by designing and delivering an extended collaborative project in small groups.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
The LLM Dissertation and Legal Research Skills unit allows you to develop your academic skills throughout the academic year. The material in Teaching Block 1 focuses on legal research skills. Teaching Block 2 introduces students to the individual and group dissertation pathways, converging on the selection of a suitable pathway, topic and synopsis, in the context of that pathway at the end of TB2. The process of research and writing for the dissertation project normally starts after the May/June assessment of Teaching Block 2 (TB2) taught units.
After TB2 assessments, students on both pathways will join a series of bespoke workshops, taking place throughout the summer and designed to support students in the development of their dissertation work.
An overview of content
Both pathways are designed to allow you to develop your independent legal research skills in a manner that is tailored towards your academic development and future plans. An indicative list of suggested titles is provided, to support you in making your choice and focusing on the project you would like to complete on this component of your degree and you will receive guidance and support on whether the group or individual project is the right path for you.
LLM students opting for the individual dissertation are required to submit a 12,000-word dissertation following the completion of teaching on the taught units. Supervisors support you in developing your research and writing skills through this process. Appropriate training is provided to students throughout the year, with an intensification in the summer, as the research and writing stage of the dissertation work begins.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
The dissertation allows you to develop and demonstrate your research skills. These are skills associated with finding and selecting legal and non-legal materials. It also allows you to develop and demonstrate other skills with which you are already familiar, in the context of your dissertation pathway – skills of analysis, synthesis, critical judgment and evaluation and verbal and written communication.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the unit, a successful student will be able to:
The LLM Dissertation and Legal Research Skills unit builds from introductory research skills delivered by way of interactive lectures in TB1 to focused skills sessions and workshops in TB2, which work towards the selection of a topic for developed research.
After the TB2 assessment period, the dissertation will become the primary focus of your work on the LLM programme. You will attend a mixture of cohort-wide lectures and workshops and focused 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 in the design of the final project. The sessions are therefore tailored to support you at key moments of the process, but also to allow you space to make your own choices.
Workshops will take place during the summer, focusing on: planning an independent research project, engaging in academic research as part of your independent research project and on extended academic writing. These sessions are designed to allow you to hone the research skills required to succeed in sustained independent research and will be supported by individual supervisions.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
There are multiple opportunities for you to receive feedback throughout the dissertation process. You will be asked to submit a one-page plan of your individual project and will discuss this with your supervisor in the first supervision session, receiving oral feedback. Later in the dissertation process, you will submit a piece of written work, either as an extended plan, draft chapter, or combination of the two, as the formative assessment on the unit (maximum of 2,400 words). You will receive oral feedback on this work in a second supervision with your supervisor and will receive written feedback after the supervision.
Throughout the summer, you will be invited to attend focused workshops, with interactive tasks and question and answer components, allowing you to develop your skills and explore questions you have.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
An individual dissertation submission (maximum of 12,000 words): 100% of the overall unit mark. This will assess all of the ILOs on the unit.
When assessment does not go to plan:
A student on the individual dissertation pathway who does not pass the assessment at the first attempt would usually be permitted another attempt to submit reassessment, on the same topic.
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.
