Unit snapshot

  • Unit type
    PG Coursework Unit
  • Credit points
    12
  • Faculty & College
    Faculty of Business, Law and Arts
  • Placement
    No

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.

This unit is an integral part of a selection of courses at SCU Online. Each course incorporates this unit into a complete and immersive educational experience. If you're interested in this unit, we highly recommend enrolling in one of the courses listed below.

 

Unit content

  • Nature and objectives of legal research
  • Methodologies used in legal and interdisciplinary research
  • Managing a research project
  • Building advanced skills in legal research techniques
  • Conducting research on a specific area
  • Practising academic integrity in legal research and writing
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A woman in a business suit engages in conversation with two colleagues in a professional setting.

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:

  • Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the nature and objectives of legal research
  • Engage in the methodologies used in legal and interdisciplinary research
  • Use advanced legal research techniques to identify, evaluate, record and manage legal and non-legal materials
  • Engage competently in research in a specialised area of law, locally and internationally
  • Practise academic integrity and ethical behaviour in advanced legal research and writing

Teaching and assessment

Teaching method
Structured online learning

Assessment
Quiz: 10%
Literature review: 40%
Proposal: 50%

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A man and woman are intently examining a document together, discussing its contents with focused expressions.

Study this unit in the following courses

This unit is a fundamental component of the full courses listed below, each designed to equip you with the in-depth knowledge and skills needed to achieve your career goals. To fully benefit from your learning experience and apply it to real-world challenges, engaging with the entire course is essential. Explore the courses that include this unit and take the next step towards your professional success.

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