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LS1522: LEGAL METHOD (2017-2018)

Last modified: 25 May 2018 11:16


Course Overview

This course develops key legal research skills by taking students through a research project from initial conception to final written product, including: research design; research ethics; identifying and locating primary sources; interpreting and evaluating primary sources; identifying and locating secondary sources; critically analysing secondary sources; use and interpretation of data, statistics and other (non-legal) evidence; and effective writing. It will teach students the comparative and doctrinal-historical legal methods critical to legal research. Students will develop their own research project throughout the semester in light of this learning, building their project step by step under the guidance of the teaching team.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 1
Session Second Sub Session Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus None. Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Adelyn Wilson

Qualification Prerequisites

  • One of Programme Level 1 or Programme Level 2 or Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Either Law (LS) (Studied) or Legal Studies (Ma Honours) (LX) (Studied)
  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

  • LS1518 Legal Research and Writing (Studied)

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This course develops key legal research skills by taking students through a research project from initial conception to final written product, including: research design; research ethics; identifying and locating primary sources; interpreting and evaluating primary sources; identifying and locating secondary sources; critically analysing secondary sources; use and interpretation of data, statistics and other (non-legal) evidence; and effective writing. It will also teach students the comparative and doctrinal-historical legal methods that are critical to legal research. Students will develop their own research project throughout the semester in light of this learning, building their project step by step under the guidance of the teaching team.

Further Information & Notes

Restricted to students of LLB and MA Legal Studies Degrees.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 31 August 2023 for 1st half-session courses and 22 December 2023 for 2nd half-session courses.

Summative Assessments

1st Attempt: One hour examination (50%), research essay (50%).

 

To pass the course overall, students must achieve: (a) a mark of at least E1 in both assessments, and (b) an average mark of D3 once both assessments are taken into account. Students who do not complete an assessment will be recorded as ‘NP’, ‘GC’ or ‘MC’ for that assessment and the course overall as appropriate. Students who complete both assessments but do not achieve E1 or higher in both assessments will have their overall course mark capped at E1. Students who do not pass the course overall will be offered a resit attempt in the elements of assessment failed or not completed.

Formative Assessment

Although there is no formative assignment which must be submitted, formative feedback will be provided on the work done in and for the workshops.

Feedback

Written feedback will be provided on an individual basis for the essay through the use of the School’s Feedback Form; generic feedback on the essay will be provided in a feedback lecture in revision week. Generic feedback will be provided on the exam via myAberdeen and in the week ten seminar; individual feedback will not be provided on the exam. 

Course Learning Outcomes

None.

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