module specification

This module introduces students to research methods, relevant research resources and real-world ELP projects and is designed to enable participants to prepare, design and present their own ELP project. This module therefore provides a focal point around which research projects can be instituted to explore the subject of ELP in depth.

Module participants may be engaged in working on, or in planning, actual projects which can be used as a basis for their work on this module. This module will require a reflective approach to learning and continuous professional development.

BL7106 Employment Law and Practice (ELP). This module must have been passed before starting this course.

• To develop to an advanced level the students’ skills of independent research and analysis;
• To allow students to develop an advanced understanding Employment Law and Practice through independent research;
• To develop students’ facility of critical thinking through taught provision and independent research:
• To offer the course in modes of study that accommodate students’ other commitments and career development.
• To assist students in evaluating their learning and embedding personal development in their professional practice in research/project activities.

The Advanced Project can take the form of a postgraduate dissertation or a portfolio. The specific syllabus (content) for an individual project will vary in accordance with the subject matter and its title. However preparation and writing of a project will divide into several stages.

1. Consideration of subject area, title and orientation of the project – this will include considering appropriate contemporary (or otherwise) academic or professional areas of intellectual contention or dispute, for example recent controversial case law or issues of interpretation, scope or enforcement arising from national or international law, EU Directive or regulation and/or international agreement
2. Consideration, example and practice relating to appropriate research method or technique and/or selection of material including primary or secondary material for purpose of support for academic or professional argument
3. Consideration of the structure, narrative and cohesion of intellectual and professional argument including ordering and selection of material under chapter headings and sections. This would include issues around dissertation abstract, introduction, conclusion and evaluation
4. Consideration of future use and value of dissertation in professional and academic contexts and for purpose of vocational opportunity.

The module will be taught entirely by one to one sessions between individual supervisors and supervisees. However, a dedicated VLE will support this teaching.

On successful completion of the course, students will have:

• An expertise in a specific area of Employment Law and Practice achieved by preparing for and writing the project.

By researching and presenting the project, students will be able to:

• Identify an area/topic for the project
• Identify and analyse the available literature in the field
• Identify and analyse the relevant primary and secondary sources
• Justify the title in terms of its relevance, topicality and originality
• Compose appropriate research questions and supporting evidenced material and examples suitable to address critical academic and professional issues in the area of Employment Law and Practice

In writing the project, students will have:

• Developed a capacity for independent evaluated research at postgraduate level
• Become able to develop a methodologically sound critical discussion which is presented as a critically discursive analysis of the dissertation topic achieved by supervised dissertation writing.

Adopted an appropriate research strategy and techniques to support a sustained academic and professional argument on critical issues within the area of Employment Law and Practice.

• Appropriately constructed academic and professional argument, including supported contextual and critical material suitable for inclusion and completion of a piece of academic and practical research of 5,000 words on a subject related to the area of Employment Law and Practice.

The summative assessment for this module will consist entirely of a project.

1. Westlaw database online
2. Lexis Library online
3. iLaw online
4. Hein Online
5. OSCOLA (Oxford Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities) www.law.ac.uk/oscola
6. The Oxford Handbook of Empirical Legal Research edited by Peter Cane & Herbert M Kritzer, Oxford University Press 2010