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Research and Writing in a Legal Environment - LAWS4430
Law Books

 
Faculty: Faculty of Law
 
 
School:  Faculty of Law
 
 
Course Outline: See below
 
 
Campus: Kensington Campus
 
 
Career: Postgraduate
 
 
Units of Credit: 4
 
 
EFTSL: 0.08333 (more info)
 
 
Indicative Contact Hours per Week: 0
 
 
Enrolment Requirements:
 
 
Prerequisite: Academic Program must be either 9220 or 5750
 
 
Fee Band: 3 (more info)
 
 
Further Information: See Class Timetable
 
 

Description

Research and Writing in a Legal Environment is a core course for students in the MLS program, worth 4 uoc. It is taught intensively over 2 days. The course provides training in legal research skills essential to undertaking assignments in the MLS program. It also teaches the formal requirements of legal writing.


Credited Programs

Legal Studies students only.

Recommended Prior Knowledge

None

Course Objectives

This course aims to introduce non-law graduates to the study of law, and to familiarize them with:
  • Primary and secondary legal materials
  • The tools and methods of legal research
  • The structure and contents of a law library

Main Topics

  • Introduction to legal materials and legal research generally
  • Introduction to legal writing
  • Researching secondary materials
  • Researching primary materials

Assessment

Class participation 25%
Class exercises 25%
Research assignment 50%
 

Course Texts

Prescribed
None

Recommended

  • Bott B, Cowley J & Falconer L, Nemes and Coss’ Effective Legal Research, 3rd ed (Sydney: Lexis Nexis Butterworths, 2007)
  • Cook C, Creyke R, Geddes R & Hamer D, Laying Down the Law, 6th ed (Sydney: LexisNexis Butterworths, 2005)
  • Hutchinson T, Researching and Writing in Law, 2nd ed (Sydney: Lawbook Co, 2006)
  • Watt R, Concise Legal Research, 5th ed (Sydney: Federation Press, 2005)
  • Butterworths Concise Australian Legal Dictionary, 3rd ed (Sydney: LexisNexis Butterworths, 2004)

Resources

See recommended texts above.

URL for this page:

© The University of New South Wales (CRICOS Provider No.: 00098G), 2004-2011. The information contained in this Handbook is indicative only. While every effort is made to keep this information up-to-date, the University reserves the right to discontinue or vary arrangements, programs and courses at any time without notice and at its discretion. While the University will try to avoid or minimise any inconvenience, changes may also be made to programs, courses and staff after enrolment. The University may also set limits on the number of students in a course.