Module Database Search
| MODULE DESCRIPTOR | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Module Title | |||
| Law Research Methods and Professional Practice | |||
| Reference | LLM590 | Version | 1 |
| Created | February 2023 | SCQF Level | SCQF 11 |
| Approved | July 2023 | SCQF Points | 30 |
| Amended | ECTS Points | 15 | |
| Aims of Module | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| The module aims to deepen students' knowledge and understanding of the essential methodologies, approaches, and tools of research applicable to different fields of law and the extent to which they intersect and or interact with problem solving approaches in professional practice. | |||
| Learning Outcomes for Module | |
|---|---|
| On completion of this module, students are expected to be able to: | |
| 1 | Make informed judgments about sources of law, legal methodologies, and effective legal research skills (finding and reading the law, legal reasoning, and legal writing) |
| 2 | Critically evaluate a range of appropriate legal research methods and tools in a competent and professional manner for the collection and analyses of data. |
| 3 | Analyse current issues in professional practice, with the aim to develop original and innovative solutions relevant to the field of study. |
| 4 | Generate research outputs using appropriate methods and to communicate same to a range of audiences with diverse levels of knowledge/expertise (Oral skills) |
| 5 | Appraise the impact of reflective professional practice on knowledge generation (by identifying ways in which professional practice can contribute positively to the research process). |
| Indicative Module Content |
|---|
| Legal skills and reasoning. Types of Legal research (including doctrinal “black-letter” legal research, contextualised empirical/socio-legal research, and comparative legal research). Professional practice, metacognition, and problem-solving skills. |
| Module Delivery |
|---|
| The module will be delivered through series of seminars. |
| Indicative Student Workload | Full Time | Part Time |
|---|---|---|
| Contact Hours | 20 | 20 |
| Non-Contact Hours | 280 | 280 |
| Placement/Work-Based Learning Experience [Notional] Hours | N/A | N/A |
| TOTAL | 300 | 300 |
| Actual Placement hours for professional, statutory or regulatory body |
| ASSESSMENT PLAN | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| If a major/minor model is used and box is ticked, % weightings below are indicative only. | |||||
| Component 1 | |||||
| Type: | Coursework | Weighting: | 100% | Outcomes Assessed: | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Description: | Reflective piece on professional practice and its impact on research design, methodology and knowledge generation. | ||||
| MODULE PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTOR | |
|---|---|
| Explanatory Text | |
| Component one comprises 100% of the module grade. To pass the module, a D grade is required | |
| Module Grade | Minimum Requirements to achieve Module Grade: |
| A | A |
| B | B |
| C | C |
| D | D |
| E | E |
| F | F |
| NS | Non-submission of work by published deadline or non-attendance for examination |
| Module Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Prerequisites for Module | None. |
| Corequisites for module | None. |
| Precluded Modules | None. |
| INDICATIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Finch & Fafinski, Legal Skills, 8th ed., Oxford University Press, 2021, |
| 2 | McConville M. and Chui W.H., 2017. Research methods for law. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press |
| 3 | Webley, Legal Writing, 4th Ed., Routledge, 2016 |
| 4 | Hanson, S, Learning Legal Skills and Reasoning, 4th ed., Routledge 2015 (available through the RGU library as eBook) |
| 5 | Higgins E. and Tatham L., 2015. Successful legal writing. 3rd ed. London: Sweet and Maxwell. |
| 6 | Billett S., Harteis C., Gruber H., 2014. International Handbook of Research in Professional and Practice-based Learning. London: Springer |