| Unit name | Dissertation and Legal Research Skills (Group Pathway) |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAWDM0185 |
| Credit points | 60 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52) |
| Unit director | Dr. Martire |
| 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 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, within the context of that pathway, at the end of TB2. The process of research and writing for dissertation projects 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 LLM dissertation pathways are designed to allow you to develop your 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. You will receive guidance and support on whether the group or individual project is the right path for you. Students completing the group pathway will submit a group dissertation of 10,000 words, accompanied by a 2,000 word individual reflective account. Supervisors support you in developing your 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 in the context of a group submission, furthering your collaborative working skills. The research will involve finding and selecting legal and non-legal materials. The process will allow 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:
How you will learn
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 development of your group project, alongside your group members. 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 aspects of: employability skills and team working; planning group projects effectively, engaging in academic research and reflecting on your group work experience. Your work on the group dissertation component will be supported by group supervisions.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
There are multiple opportunities for you to receive feedback on the group dissertation pathway. A series of group work-focused workshops take place over the summer where you will liaise with your group and a team of academics on the development of your project.
You will also have two supervisory meetings with an academic supervisor, during the dissertation process. In the first group supervision, you and your group will submit a group dissertation project plan to your supervisor in advance of your meeting and will discuss this with your supervisor in the first group supervision. Later in the dissertation process, the group will submit a piece of written work, either as an extended plan or samples of writing from each section of the dissertation. This is your formative submission on this unit. Your group will meet with your supervisor in a second supervision, where you will receive oral feedback on the formative submission and discuss the development of the dissertation. You will also receive written feedback on the submission.
Students in each group will be asked to identify a section of the dissertation that they are responsible for completing. This will be agreed within the group and with the academic supervisor.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
When assessment does not go to plan:
Different scenarios could entail the need for resubmission by an individual member of a group or each member of the group, depending on performance in the two components of the group pathway assessment.
Where reassessment is required, the case would be considered by the unit coordinator, in conjunction with the PGT team and the Chair of Examinations. These outcomes are likely to be dependent on a student’s individual marks profile. The individual reassessment project will have a maximum word count of 8000 words.
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. LAWDM0185).
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.
