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Unit of Study LAWS4005 - Law Honours Research and Methodology (2026)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

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Unit description

Introduces researchers studying or working in the field of law to the range of theoretical and epistemological frameworks which may inform different types of legal research and to the methods and methodologies which may be employed in the legal research process. Provides students with the practical skills necessary to enable them to carry out and produce well designed and articulated research projects. Students will be supported to develop their understanding of the requirements for successfully completing an Honours thesis, identify a suitable topic of enquiry and undertake a literature review for their research project.

Unit content

Module 1: From interest to topic to abstract

Module 2: Thesis and antithesis: explaining your methods

Module 3: Structuring your research proposal: a user’s guide

Module 4: Ethics in legal research

Module 5: Past HD research proposals: what can we learn?

Module 6: Troubleshooting: research proposal: tips, tricks and traps

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Online
Dual Term2
Dual Term2

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:

evaluate and interpret theoretical propositions that underlie scholarly legal research

apply research methods to facilitate problem solving and decision making to design and plan a project of research into complex legal issues

apply advanced research skills to develop a project proposal and communicate project content effectively.

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • Hutchinson, T, 2018, Researching and Writing in Law, 4th edn, Law Book Co. / Thomson Reuters, Australia. ISBN: 9780455237800 (print version); 9780455237817 (eBook).
Prescribed Resources/Equipment
  • No prescribed resources/equipment.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.