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SCU Online

Unit description

Students enrolled in postgraduate legal studies as part of a thesis or coursework program must demonstrate the capacity to engage with legal research at an advanced level. This unit builds on the research skills students gained in their undergraduate program to enable them to understand the methodologies used in legal research as well as formulate and refine a research topic, locate source materials using advanced technologies and present a research proposal, including literature review and any necessary ethics approval. This unit is highly recommended for students who have never completed a legal research methodologies unit.

Unit content

1. nature and objectives of legal research

2. methodologies used in legal and interdisciplinary research

3. managing a research project

4. building advanced skills in legal research techniques

5. conducting research on a specific area

6. practising academic integrity in legal research and writing.

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
1demonstrate advanced knowledge of the nature and objectives of legal research
2engage in the methodologies used in legal and interdisciplinary research
3use advanced legal research techniques to identify, evaluate, record and manage legal and non-legal materials
4engage competently in research in a specialised area of law, locally and internationally
5practise academic integrity and ethical behaviour in advanced legal research and writing.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. demonstrate advanced knowledge of the nature and objectives of legal research
  2. engage in the methodologies used in legal and interdisciplinary research
  3. use advanced legal research techniques to identify, evaluate, record and manage legal and non-legal materials
  4. engage competently in research in a specialised area of law, locally and internationally
  5. practise academic integrity and ethical behaviour in advanced legal research and writing.

Prescribed Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts
  • Hutchinson, T, 2018, Research and Writing in Law, 4th edn, Thomson Reuters.
  • O'Leary, Z, 2017, The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project, 3rd edn, Sage, London. ISBN: 9781473952089.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment
  • No prescribed resources/equipment.

Prescribed Texts
  • Hutchinson, T, 2018, Research and Writing in Law, 4th edn, Thomson Reuters.
  • O'Leary, Z, 2017, The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project, 3rd edn, Sage, London. ISBN: 9781473952089.
Prescribed Resources/Equipment
  • No prescribed resources/equipment.
Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods

Teaching and assessment

Teaching method
Structured online learning
Assessment
Quiz10%
Literature review40%
Project proposal50%
Notice

Intensive offerings may or may not be scheduled in every teaching period. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Southern Cross University employs different teaching methods within units to provide students with the flexibility to choose the mode of learning that best suits them. SCU academics strive to use the latest approaches and, as a result, the learning modes and materials may change. The most current information regarding a unit will be provided to enrolled students at the beginning of the teaching period.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.

Fee paying courses
For postgraduate or undergraduate full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees

International

Please check the international course and fee list to determine the relevant fees.

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