Module Information

Module Identifier
LC20420
Module Title
Legal Skills and Research
Academic Year
2025/2026
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
Exclusive (Any Acad Year)
Reading List
Other Staff

Course Delivery

 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Written Essay  (2000 words)  70%
Semester Assessment Oral Presentation of Legal Argument  (20 minutes)  30%
Supplementary Assessment Written Essay  (2000 words)  70%
Supplementary Assessment Oral Presentation of Legal Argument  (20 minutes)  30%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate a good practical knowledge of academic writing skills generally, and writing skills and formats specific to the study of law and the preparation of legal documents.

2. Demonstrate familiarity with the reading, researching and study of legal documents, and legal databases with specific attention to legislation and case law.

3. Employ advanced critical analysis/problem solving skills with reference to reading law-based materials.

4. Demonstrate good oral presentation/mooting/advocacy skills and be able to develop and present a sound legal argument.

5. Ability to demonstrate sound legal argument.​

Brief description

This module will provide the students with a thorough grounding in the skills needed to undertake study of law.

Content

The module provides students in their first/entry year of study with the academic skills necessary for the study of law. (Please see learning outcomes for detailed list of these skills). This module will provide the students with a thorough grounding in the skills needed to undertake study of law. This is not an exhaustive list but includes critical analysis, advocacy ( with particular focus on mooting), reading cases, case noting, reading legislation, sources of law, utilizing legal databases, legal method, legal reasoning, writing legal essays and papers etc.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number n/a
Communication Interactive seminars and development of legal argument through oral advocacy with other students in moots.
Improving own Learning and Performance Students will be guided and encouraged to manage their independent study time.
Information Technology IT systems and legal databases essential to study and research.
Personal Development and Career planning Students will be advised as to the various opportunities that a law degree offers and how law is taught at university.
Problem solving By analysis and identification of distinct areas of law, principles of law; development of legal argument based on hypothetical scenarios.
Research skills Use of legal databases, Aber Primo, Google Scholar.
Subject Specific Skills Preparation of legal argument; legal writing; legal research; advocacy skills; legal method; reading case law; reading legislation; preparation of skeleton arguments for moot.
Team work Students will be encouraged through seminar group work and paired mooting teams to engage with peers.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5