Legal Research and Writing

• Credit value: 15 credits at Level 6
• Convenors: Dr Craig Reeves, Dr Victoria Ridler
• Assessment: an essay proposal with annotated bibliography (10%), draft with abstract (10%) and essay and viva (80%)

This module equips you with a foundation in legal research and writing skills, including applying logical and rhetorical analysis to the development of a sustained argument that is both strong and persuasive. This will include introducing more advanced legal research methods, kinds of critical analysis, principles of composing and presenting in-depth arguments about law, and communicating arguments clearly, confidently and persuasively in writing and orally.

Indicative syllabus

• Legal research methods and sources
• Approaches to critical analysis
• Discovery and construction of arguments
• Composition and communication in writing of persuasive arguments

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• research and write in-depth legal research essays
• exhibit detailed legal scholarship and clear and cogent argumentation
• communicate cogent arguments about law clearly, confidently and persuasively in writing and orally
• defend and elaborate arguments about law in spontaneous oral dialogue.