Legal Research and Research Methods

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Course leader: Susan Edwards
Two terms (20 units)

Aims of the course

The course aims to:

provide students with an introduction to research skills and research methodology such that they understand the range of available sources and methodologies and can use and apply them to a legal problem
enable the students to acquire confidence in exploring their research ideas and the skill to formulate a research proposal.
introduce students to the research guidance.
provide students with the skills to research and to write up a dissertation and/or research paper, following guidance regarding presentation, word limit and time scales.
introduce students to computer techniques and packages for preparing and presenting assignments, for research and presentations.

Intended learning outcomes

It is intended that students undertaking masters level study:

gain an understanding of the library resources, library databases and electronic sources, how to undertake advanced searching and find particular identified information.
develop the ability to think broadly of a range of possible research questions, investigate and develop a research topic, apply theoretical perspectives and research methodologies and prepare and present a research proposal.
acquire the confidence to discuss and share research ideas with others and to comment on the research ideas of other students through a series of seminars.
gain an understanding of the guidelines regarding the LLM dissertation and term papers.
understand and appreciate the importance of word limits, timescales and presentation.
develop the necessary computer skills and acquire an understanding of appropriate software packages.

Course outline

Part 1

Searching the library catalogues
Searching for information 1
LexisLibrary
Searching for information 2
Using Westlaw
General electronic sources, law links and online journals, IOLIS and JustCite
Advanced internet searching techniques

Part 2

Understanding research
Developing ideas and preparing a literature review
Developing a research question and preparing an outline proposal
Empirical research
Recording and managing research data
Managing time
Understanding the role of the supervisor
Understanding plagiarism and the importance of recording sources
Working with presentation guidelines and writing up

Part 3

Introduction to computer skills (Word)
Practical application of the presentation guidelines
Recording research data
PowerPoint and Excel
Software packages

Assessment methods

The course is assessed by continuous assessment (20%), which comprises a written paper / practical exercises / Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) based test, as well as an unseen examination (80%).

Key texts

Comprehensive handouts will be available to students on each topic to be covered. These will incorporate worksheets and self-directed exercises, which will act as a reference source for students when undertaking self-directed research. Students will also be introduced to online tutorials for the development of searching techniques and skills. In addition, students will be given a copy of the LLM Guide to Writing a Research Paper.

Students will be directed, inter alia, to the latest editions of the following texts, which are available in the Library:

Blaxter, L, C Hughes & M Tight. How to Research (Buckingham: Open University Press). ISBN: 0-335-19452-4
Buckley, P & D Clark. Rough guide to the Internet (London: Rough Guides). ISBN: 1-84353-338-3
Calishain, T. Web search garage (Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall). ISBN: 0-13-147148-1
Clinch, P. Using a law library : a student's guide to legal research skills (London: Blackstone). ISBN: 1-84174-029-2
Cole, J. Using Moodle: teaching with the popular open source course management system, (Sabastopol, CA: O'Reilly). ISBN: 0-596-00863-5
Fairbairn, G J. & Winch, C. Reading, writing and reasoning: a guide for students (Buckingham: Open University Press). ISBN: 0-335-09596-8
Halvorson, T R. Law of the super searchers: the online secrets of the top legal researchers (Medford, NJ: CyberAge Books). ISBN: 0-910965-34-X
Hanson, S. Legal method and reasoning (London: Cavendish), ISBN: 1-85941-783-3
Webley, L. Legal writing (London: Cavendish). ISBN: 1-85941-919-4