LL6P05 - Law Dissertation (2026/27)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2026/27 | ||||||||||
| Module title | Law Dissertation | ||||||||||
| Module level | Honours (06) | ||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 30 | ||||||||||
| School | Guildhall School of Business and Law | ||||||||||
| Total study hours | 300 | ||||||||||
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| Running in 2026/27(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
The Law Dissertation requires you to undertake detailed, critical research into a law topic of your choice and write an essay of up to 8,000 words.
You will be assigned a supervisor based on your updated research proposal.
The module is structured so that you are required to present a summative research proposal, which then provides the infrastructure for your dissertation. You are expected to engage with regular supervision throughout the process.
You will develop an advanced understanding of your chosen specialist area of law.
This module will give you the opportunity to choose a topic of research/assessment within the syllabus according to your own particular interests, in accordance with the Inclusive Assessment aims of the ESJ Framework.
The aims of the module are to:
• allow you independently to research and develop an expert understanding of an area of law of your choice;
• improve both your research and independent study skills;
• enhance your ability to develop critical arguments
This module supports graduate opportunity and employability by giving you key knowledge of a subject which is practised within the professional legal sector; and by giving you a host of transferable skills, including research, critical thinking and communication.
Syllabus
There is no prescribed syllabus for this module as it is largely an independent study module.
The students will receive guidance in:
1. The importance of legal research
2. The choice of topic
3. Writing a research proposal
4. Primary and secondary source research
5. Writing a literature review
6. The choice of the right methodology
7. OSCOLA referencing
8. Structure and planning of the writing up
9. Writing a research essay
All these subjects pervade each of the Learning Outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
This is largely an independent study module.
There are a number of lectures and drop-in sessions that are offered for general guidance on how to structure an essay, refine the title and to reference using the OSCOLA style of referencing. These lectures provide you with the tools necessary to undertake independent research and write up a law research essay.
Students are also assigned a supervisor who will guide them through the process and provide feedback and feedforward on drafts.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
1. Conduct independent legal research.
2. Synthesise large amounts of legal material in order to identify legal problems.
3. Compose a critical commentary on issues in the area of law that you have chosen.
4. Write a research dissertation in an appropriate format, ensuring that it follows OSCOLA referencing.
Bibliography
CORE
Law dissertations: a step-by-step guide, by Laura Lammasniemi, 2021, Second Edition
Legal doctrinal scholarship: legal theory and the inner workings of a doctrinal discipline
by Mátyás Bódig,2021
Writing law dissertations: an introduction and guide to the conduct of legal research
by Michael Salter; Julie Mason, 2007
Legal reasoning and legal writing, by Richard K. Neumann; Ellie Margolis; Kathryn M. Stanchi, 2021, 9th edition
Research methods in law, edited by Dawn Watkins; Mandy Burton, 2017, 2nd edition
How to write law essays & exams, by Stacie Strong,2022, 6th edition
Writing law dissertations: an introduction and guide to the conduct of legal research
by Michael Salter; Julie Mason, 2007
DATABASES
Westlaw Edge UK
Lexis+ UK