The "Law Reform Project" enables students to apply their intellectual skills and knowledge to identifying a legal or policy problem and in finding a reform agenda. They will also be required to develop employment related skills in relation to project management skills, innovative and strategic visioning, clear articulation of reports, engaging in cost/benefit analysis of their ideas, learning how to overcome risks and challenges involved in change, as well as a wider understanding of the impact of law in society and the formulation of legal solutions to real world problems. Students are encouraged, where appropriate, to engage with local community groups, pressure groups, practitioners, their placement employers or the Department of Law's community clinic or mediation unit in developing their proposals and identifying a viable reform agenda.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
The module will consists of a short series of seminars in teaching block one, in which students will be provided with appropriate training in research methods, project design and policy formulation and will be given an opportunity to develop a research proposal with the guidance of the module leader and, where appropriate in consultation with community, pressure or practitioner groups locally.
Once students have developed a proposal they will be allocated a supervisor and will be offered a series of meetings with their supervisor for advice and guidance on developing their research through independent study. The supervisor will be a subject expert in the relevant legal area and will be a research active member of staff.
Students will be required to enhance their ability to use research resources and tools in electronic media.
| Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | Seminars | 5 |
| Guided independent study | Supervision | 3 |
| Guided independent study | Independent research | 292 |
| Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 | |
The module is assessed through two pieces of coursework:
1. An evidence-based research proposal outlining the identified legal issue and its impact (2,000 words)
2. A Law Reform report - an extended piece of written work which proposes and justifies a reform agenda leading to new legislation (10,000 words)
Students will receive written feedback on the research proposal as well as regular advice and guidance on how to improve their work through contact with their supervisor in accordance with a structured supervision model. Supervisors will offer one to one feedback on a draft of the project.
The assessment enables students to apply their intellectual skills and knowledge to identifying a legal or policy problem and in finding a reform agenda. Students will also be required to develop employment related skills in relation to project management skills, innovative and strategic visioning, clear articulation of reports, engaging in cost/benefit analysis of their ideas, learning how to overcome risks and challenges involved in change, as well as a wider understanding of the impact of law in society and the formulation of legal solutions to real world problems.
| Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
|---|---|
| 1) Demonstrate a detailed knowledge and understanding of area of law and critically assess its social, political, legal, cultural, economic impact on the real world | Research proposal and law reform report FS |
| 2) Demonstrate an ability to define a problem and propose and justify a particular agenda for reform | Research proposal and Law Reform Report FS |
| 3) Demonstrate advanced research skills | Research proposal and Law Reform Project FS |
| 4) Demonstrate an ability to present evidence-based proposals in a clear, coherent manner which reflects academic and theoretical critical analysis and in a format appropriate to a non-academic audience | Law Reform Report FS |
| Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Research proposal | Coursework 1 | 10 |
| Law Reform Report | Coursework 2 | 90 |
| Total (to equal 100%) | 100% | |
It is a requirement that the major categories of assessment are passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.
Latest editions of:
Thomas and Knowles Effective Legal Research Sweet & Maxwell
L. Webley Legal Writing Routledge-Cavendish
Further reading appropriate to the area of law under investigation
Law Commission Reports
White Papers
Pressure Group reports