Newcastle University

Pre Requisite Comment

n/a

Co Requisite Comment

n/a

Aims

(1) To develop knowledge and understanding of considerations relevant to the effective pursuit of legal research.

(2) To develop knowledge and understanding of difficulties that can be encountered when undertaking legal research.

(3) To develop knowledge and understanding of the ways in which effective legal research can add value in those spheres where it is undertaken.

(4) To acquire greater knowledge and depth of understanding in the area(s) of legal activity being researched.

(5) To further develop a skill set for (i) identifying legal challenges in the relevant research thread and (ii) recognising the applicability of established legal doctrine and jurisprudence in untested situations.

Outline Of Syllabus

This is a research module that presents students with an opportunity to engage in analysis of an emerging legal issue related to one of the thematic research strands pre-selected for the module. Each year between 3-8 focal areas will be pre-selected and highlighted at the time of module selection (e.g. law and emerging technologies, social justice, regulation and governance in times of crisis, etc). Students will be provided with primer materials related to some of the legal issues either known to be arising, or expected to arise, within their chosen research strand. Students will identify a distinct research topic or theme within the research strand and engage with this as part of an assessed research paper and blog post/research briefing. As a research module, the formal syllabus will be minimal, and will adapt to some extent year-to-year, depending upon the chosen research strands.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

On completing the module, students will be able to:

(1) demonstrate detailed knowledge and understanding of considerations relevant to the effective pursuit of legal research;

(2) demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the difficulties that can be encountered when undertaking legal research;

(3) demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the ways in which effective legal research can add value in those spheres where it is undertaken;

(4) demonstrate possession of greater knowledge and depth of understanding in the area(s) of legal activity researched.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Subject Specific Skills:

(1) Identification of significant emerging legal issues from within a given theme (known at the time of module selection) that could profitably be researched;

(2) Pursuit of a clearly identifiable and significant theme;

(3) Ability to interpret relevant materials with care and precision;

(4) Ability to write with care and precision on the relevant subject;

(5) Ability to accurately retrieve relevant legal and other materials in primary and secondary form.

(6) Ability to rearticulate legal research in an accessible form for a non-specialist reader.


Cognitive Skills:

Opportunities are afforded to develop the following cognitive skills:

(1) Analysis, involving, inter alia, the identification of the key features of concepts and practices;

(2) Synthesis, involving, inter alia, the integration, within a particular argument, of materials from a variety of sources;

(3) Critical judgement, involving, inter alia, informed and discerning choice between particular arguments based on their relative merits;

(4) Evaluation, involving, inter alia, informed and discerning appraisal of considerations under scrutiny.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The initial primer materials will provide the students with a broad subject matter frame of reference by setting out the broad focal theme and its real-world relevance and application. These online materials would identify some of the emerging legal issues and would therefore assist students with targeting their particular area of focus (i.e. research question(s)) for their research paper and blog/briefing. The Library research skills workshop will allow students to become familiar with online library resources and search engines, advice on reviewing literature and opportunities for engaging with materials from non-law disciplines. The project supervision hours would also help guide students on initial topic selection, as well as encouraging their progress.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The written research paper affords an opportunity to demonstrate detailed knowledge, depth of understanding, and possession of subject-specific, cognitive, and key skills.

The associated blog post / research briefing serves to encourage: (i) intense reflection on the research project that was undertaken and (ii) consideration of how best to present legal research in accessible and sharply focused terms.

General Notes

N/A