LL.M Dissertation

LAWS70990 LL.M Dissertation 60 Full year Postgraduate Taught Level 7 Kyriaki Vasileiou Unit coordinator Yusra Suedi Unit coordinator Michael Galanis Unit coordinator Law 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 30.0 The PGT programmes have both a taught element and a research element. To be awarded a PGT degree, students must satisfactorily complete both elements, to a total of 180 credits. The research element makes up 60 credits of the total 180 credits needed. The dissertation will be a maximum of 12,000 words on an approved topic. Students must submit a provisional title and a summary of their proposed topic by a specific date that will be set at the beginning of the first semester by the Programme Director. If you wish to complete a dissertation you need to approach an academic member of staff, preferably the course director under which your chosen topic might fall, to approve the provisional title. Once completed, the dissertation must be submitted electronically on specific published date (in early September of the year in which the examinations were passed). Further information about title approvals, the supervision process and submission process will be made available during the first semester. The topic covered by the dissertation should relate to an area of law studied within the student's registered LLM programme.  For specialised LLM streams, the topic should normally fall within the designated core subject area(s).  The PGT programmes have both a taught element and a research element. To be awarded a PGT degree, students must satisfactorily complete both elements, to a total of 180 credits. The research element makes up 60 credits of the total 180 credits needed. The dissertation will be a maximum of 12,000 words on an approved topic. Students must submit a provisional title and a brief summary of their proposed topic by a specific date that will be set at the beginning of the first semester by the Programme Director. If you wish to complete a dissertation you need to approach an academic member of staff, preferably the course director under which your chosen topic might fall, to approve the provisional title. Once completed, the dissertation must be submitted electronically on specific published date (in early September of the year in which the examinations were passed). Further information about title approvals, the supervision process and submission process will be made available during the first semester.   The topic covered by the dissertation should relate to an area of law studied within the student's registered LLM programme.  For specialised LLM streams, the topic should normally fall within the designated core subject area(s).   To develop forensic legal skills such as analysis, critical evaluation and argument; To develop the capacity for individual research; To develop skills and knowledge, that can usefully be applied in further study, the legal profession, public service or industry.  The dissertation functions as the capstone of the LLM, enabling students to consolidate and apply advanced legal knowledge through sustained independent research. The intended learning outcomes support intellectual development by requiring students to formulate research questions, critically evaluate primary and secondary materials, and construct coherent, well-reasoned legal arguments. Through this process, students demonstrate subject mastery, and analytical depth.In terms of employability (CUIP), the module enhances key graduate attributes including advanced research and digital information literacy, structured problem-solving, persuasive written communication, independent project management, and reflective engagement with feedback. The completion of a substantial independent research project evidences autonomy, resilience, and analytical capability, preparing students for legal practice, policy roles, regulatory environments, consultancy, and doctoral study.       <ul><li>Demonstrate systematic understanding of a defined area of law relevant to the chosen dissertation topic, including its doctrinal foundations and contemporary developments.</li><li>Critically evaluate primary and secondary legal sources.</li><li>Demonstrate awareness of methodological approaches relevant to legal research.  </li></ul> <ul><li>Formulate a coherent and original research question and develop a structured and persuasive legal argument.</li><li>Apply critical analysis and logical reasoning to complex legal issues, identifying ambiguities, tensions, and competing interpretations.</li><li>Synthesise diverse legal materials and perspectives to produce an independent and reasoned conclusion.</li></ul>  <ul><li>Conduct independent legal research using appropriate electronic databases and research tools.</li><li>Accurately reference and present legal materials in accordance with recognised academic conventions.</li><li>Plan, manage, and complete a substantial piece of independent written work within a specified timeframe.</li></ul>  <ul><li>Demonstrate independent learning and the capacity to reflect constructively on feedback in order to support continuous academic and professional development.</li><li>Communicate complex legal analysis clearly and effectively in written form.</li><li>Demonstrate problem-solving skills through the structured resolution of advanced legal issues.  </li></ul> - Identification and refinement of a research topic and question - Development of a research proposal and structured dissertation plan - Legal research methods - Critical analysis - Academic writing: structure, argumentation, and coherence - Referencing and academic integrity - Planning and time management   All PGT students are required to undertake the Postgraduate Law Learning and Research Skills course.The course runs throughout semesters one and two, with one class every fortnight.  These classes are absolutely essential, as they will equip you with the necessary legal  research skills required to successfully complete the dissertation. The dissertations are independent pieces of work. The guidance that you will require to submit dissertation of postgraduate standard will come predominantly from these Learning and Research Skills classes. All the PGT students have a right to up to 3 face-to-face meetings with their supervisor, each of which should be a minimum of 30 minutes. The first of these meetings should be to discuss a plan of work, to identify useful literature, and so on. The topic of subsequent meetings will be decided by the student.   4 Dissertation 100% Formative feedback, either written and/or oral, is made available during the supervision process by the supervisor. Feedback will normally address structure, research depth, argumentation and referencing.Comprehensive written feedback is provided on the marked dissertation and released with results in accordance with University timelines.   N -    McConville, M. and Chui, W. (eds), Research Methods for Law (3rd edition, Edinburgh University Press, 2024). -    Dawn Watkins and Mandy Burton (eds), Research methods in law (Routledge, 2025) -    Laura Lammasniemi, Law dissertations: a step-by-step guide (Routledge, 2022) -    University of Manchester Library, My Learning Essentials: Academic Skills Resources (online).   Lectures 10 Project supervision 3 0 587 The topic covered by the dissertations should relate to an area of law studied in either semester one or two as long as it is a core unit if you are following specialised LLM  stream. The International Business and Commercial Law stream students must choose a topic from one of their designated core course units. The general LLM stream students can choose from any topic since they have no core courses in their stream.