Rhedir gan School of History, Law and Social Sciences

20.000 Credyd neu 10.000 Credyd ECTS

Semester 2

Trefnydd: Dr Craig Prescott

This is a practical module designed to develop the necessary legal research skills to support study and research at LLM level. The emphasis of the course will be on the knowledge and skills needed to draft a good quality Masters’ dissertation and research papers. Sessions include an overview and introduction to legal research methods; exploring the planning phase of your dissertation; examining the construction of a literature review and bibliography; training in traditional and empirical legal research methods; using appropriate legal English or Welsh throughout your dissertation and crafting arguments and persuasive text that is adequately substantiated and referenced.

The module will cover the following topics: using a Law Library, essay writing for Masters students, legal writing, identification and evaluation of sources, avoiding plagiarism, referencing correctly, compiling a bibliography, planning a dissertation project, writing a research proposal, identifying a dissertation research question, research methodologies, and doing a literature review.

trothwy

Present work that addresses one or more substantive topic(s) describe some of the main empirical and/or methodological issues arising from the literature or any other data base collected during the course of research, present an adequate piece of written work with basic bibliographic sources and referencing, and/or oral.

da

Present coherent and competent work, analyse a range of empirical, theoretical and methodological issues as appropriate to the topic studies, provide sound bibliographic support with correct referencing.

ardderchog

Present highly competent work, display a critical awareness of empirical, theoretical and methodological issues as to topic, should put forward coherent arguments, and demonstrate awareness of contemporary debates with relevant literature. Well organised and thorough bibliographic information.

1. Develop a critical awareness of a broad range of research methods and tools (underpinned by a strong conceptual awareness of the research processes and their underlying philosophies).

2. Identify, and reflect critically upon, the problems associated with legal research, and develop the appropriate analytical skills for their relevant LLM programme.

3. Develop a critical understanding of the basic principles of research design and strategy (including how to formulate researchable questions), sufficient to enable them to make appropriate choices for their own research.

4. Appreciate and use appropriate legal research methods and skills in relation to the submission of legal essays and a dissertation.

5. Understand how to write an appropriate methodology and literature review for a research project.

6. Understand how to present a research project proposal.

7. Develop appropriate communication skills and in particular the ability to communicate in a clear and succinct manner and present relevant legal and policy arguments

8. Use legal Welsh and/or legal English appropriately in essays and dissertation.

Math	Enw	Disgrifiad	Pwysau
ARHOLIAD	Take home exam		33.34
Written assignment, including essay	Research Proposal		66.66

		Oriau
Private study		178
Seminar	The module will consist of 11 x 2 hour teaching blocks. The instructor will contextualise the teaching in discussions using examples based on the exercises. Students will be expected to be able to engage in dialogue about substantive issues for each class, and be actively engaged in activities such as small group exercises that will enhance their understanding.	22

• Llythrennedd - Medrusrwydd mewn darllen ac ysgrifennu drwy amrywiaeth o gyfryngau
• Defnyddio cyfrifiaduron - Medrusrwydd wrth ddefnyddio ystod o feddalwedd cyfrifiadurol
• Hunanreolaeth - Gallu gweithio mewn ffordd effeithlon, prydlon a threfnus. Gallu edrych ar ganlyniadau tasgau a digwyddiadau, a barnu lefelau o ansawdd a phwysigrwydd
• Archwilio - Gallu ymchwilio ac ystyried dewisiadau eraill
• Adalw gwybodaeth - Gallu mynd at wahanol ac amrywiol ffynonellau gwybodaeth
• Sgiliau Rhyngbersonol - Gallu gofyn cwestiynau, gwrando'n astud ar atebion a'u harchwilio
• Dadansoddi Beirniadol & Datrys Problem - Gallu dadelfennu a dadansoddi problemau neu sefyllfaoedd cymhleth. Gallu canfod atebion i broblemau drwy ddadansoddiadau ac archwilio posibiliadau
• Cyflwyniad - Gallu cyflwyno gwybodaeth ac esboniadau yn glir i gynulleidfa. Trwy gyfryngau ysgrifenedig neu ar lafar yn glir a hyderus.
• Gwaith Tîm - Gallu cydweithio'n adeiladol ag eraill ar dasg gyffredin, ac/neu fod yn rhan o dîm gweithio o ddydd i ddydd
• Dadl - Gallu cyflwyno, trafod a chyfiawnhau barn neu lwybr gweithredu, naill ai gydag unigolyn neu mewn grwˆp ehangach
• Hunanymwybyddiaeth & Ystyried - Bod yn ymwybodol o'ch cryfderau, gwendidau, nodau ac amcanion eich hun. Gallu adolygu ,cloriannu a myfyrio'n rheolaidd ar eich perfformiad eich hun ac eraill.

Rhestr ddarllen

• Steve Foster, How to Write Better Law Essays (4th edn Pearson 2016)

• Emily Finch and Stefan Fafinski, Legal Skills (7th edn Oxford University Press 2019)

• J Holland and J Webb, Learning Legal Rules (10th edn Oxford University Press 2019)

• ATH Smith, Glanville Williams: Learning the Law (16th edn Sweet and Maxwell 2016)

• Rupert Haigh, Legal English (4th edn Routledge 2015)

• Michael Salter and Julie Mason, Writing Law Dissertations : An Introduction and Guide to the Conduct of Legal Research (2nd edn Pearson 2012).

• Mike McConville and Wing Hong Chui, Research Methods for Law (2nd Edinburgh University Press 2016).

• Martin Davies, Study Skills for International Postgraduates (Palgrave 2011).

• David Madsen, Successful Dissertations and Theses: A Guide to Graduate Student Research from Proposal to Completion (2nd edn Jossey-Bass 2013).

Rhagofynnol ar gyfer:

• SXL-4300: Dissertation

Gorfodol mewn cyrsiau:

• M1AF: LLM International Commercial and Business Law year 1 (LLM/ICBL)
• M1AT: LLM International Criminal Law & Intl Human Rights Law year 1 (LLM/ICLHR)
• M1AO: LLM International Intellectual Property Law year 1 (LLM/IIPL)
• M1AI: LLM International Law year 1 (LLM/IL)
• M1AC: LLM Laws year 1 (LLM/LAW)
• M1AM: LLM Law and Criminology year 1 (LLM/LC)
• M1AR: LLM Maritime Law year 1 (LLM/MLAW)
• M1AQ: LLM Public Procurement Law and Strategy year 1 (LLM/PPLS)