Module: Legal Research & Methods

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Legal Research & Methods
Module Code	LAW1008 (ITS: LG135)
Faculty	Law & Government	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module aims to introduce students to important legal doctrines and enable them to understand how to find, use and understand key legal sources. The module aims to equip students with important skills in terms of how to undertake library-based and empirical legal research. The aim is to develop analytical techniques at the beginning of the programme, which will be developed as students progress through their degree.

Learning Outcomes

1. Locate and utilise core legal sources in order to solve practical legal problems.
2. Locate and analyse case law and legislation.
3. Undertake legal research both in terms of traditional library based research and empirical work (qualitative and quantitative).
4. Utilise legal databases as a research tool.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Independent Study	48	Reading for lectures
Independent Study	12	Research training
Assignment Completion	24	Research Project
Assignment Completion	17	Research design
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	10880	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Adam Mcauley	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Project	Empirical research design	50%	Week 1
Practical/skills evaluation	Empirical research project	50%	Week 1

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Weeks 1 to 12
Week 1 Introduction Week 2 Citation and Referencing Week 3 Finding Legal Sources Week 4 Researching Case Law Week 5 Evaluating Internet Resources Week 6 Researching Legislation Week 7 Reading Week Week 8 Statutory Interpretation Week 9 Researching Constitutional Law & Constitutional Interpretation Week 10 Positive Law and Natural Law Theory Week 11 Theories of Legal Adjudication Week 12 Conclusions

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Cotterrell,: 0, The Sociology of Law: An Introduction, (latest ed),
Higgins & Tatham,: 0, Successful Legal Writing, (latest ed),
Banaker & Travers,: 0, Theory and Method in Socio-Legal Research,
Schweppe et al: 2011, How to think, write and cite; Key skills for Irish law students, Roundhall,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None