- Course Code
- LS 1522
- Credit Points
- 15
- Course Coordinator
- Dr K Fullerton
Pre-requisites
None.
Co-requisites
None.
Notes
Restricted to students of LLB and MA Legal Studies Degrees.
Overview
The course will cover: distinctive features of legal literature; key primary, secondary and tertiary UK legal information sources; search strategies for efficient and effective searching and updating of information; European legal information sources; use of electronic resources; appropriate search strategies and the relationship between paper and electronic sources; legal investigation process; critical evaluation of documentary materials and online resources; types of legal research and research methodologies; use of numerical/statistical data in legal argument; Ethical dimension to legal research; communication skills for lawyers; academic writing; use of authority; legal citation and referencing; oral presentation skills; group working and an introduction to clinical legal skills.
Structure
18 one-hour lectures and 5 two-hour workshops.
Assessment
1st Attempt: Critical analysis exercise (25%); Group oral presentations (25%) (group); Research essay (50%). Requirement for submission of the completed Reflective logbook (0%).
If a student does not achieve a pass of 9 when all elements of assessment are taken into account, a resit attempt will be offered in respect of the elements not passed at first attempt.
Formative Assessment
WebCT quizzes on information retrieval topics allow students to test their knowledge and understanding and to obtain feedback on their answers. Each quiz can be taken as many times as the student wishes and can be used as revision tools.
Feedback
Formative assessment
Feedback is to be provided as part of the answers to questions in the WebCT quizzes.
The workshops on paper information sources, using specialist legal electronic databases, critical analysis, legal writing and group work will all involve either preparation and/or contain a practical exercise and feedback is to be provided as part of each workshop.
Summative assessment
Critical analysis exercise - feedback is to be provided on an individual basis by comments on each student's work. A feedback sheet will be produced which will contain details of the appropriate approach and information concerning commonly encountered errors.
Oral presentation - feedback will be provided to each group on the day of the presentation
Essay - feedback is to be provided on an individual basis by comments on each student's work. A feedback sheet will be produced which will contain details of the appropriate approach and information concerning commonly encountered errors.