This unit of study provides an advanced program of research training for students of proven academic ability. It provides structured and systematic examination of the nature, aims and methodologies of legal research as a foundation for dissertation design and writing. Included in the unit of study content are examinations of fundamental aspects of the legal research process, including problem definition, methodology, design of the research proposal, considerations of ethical issues, quantitative research in law, questionnaire and survey design, interdisciplinary approaches to investigating legal controversies, comparative research and the publication of legal research. Also included is a systematic review of the main online research tools for finding primary and secondary legal sources, including foreign legal materials. Overall, the unit provides students the opportunity to apply and modify investigative, analytical and critical skills gained and developed through the coursework units to the resolution of a legal problem.
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):