Units / LAW4173
LAW4173 · Research unit
2026 Handbook6 credit pointsLevel 4Faculty of Law
Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTCOverview
This is a program of individual and independent research and writing on a legal topic which has been approved by the Chief Examiner after consultation with the proposed supervisor. You will develop skills in legal research methods to produce a substantial piece of written legal research (between 5,000 and 6,000 words) under the supervision of an academic member of staff.
Offerings
| Campus | Teaching period | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Clayton | Summer semester A | Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS) |
| Clayton | Summer semester B | Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS) |
| Clayton | Second semester | Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS) |
| Clayton | First semester | Teaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS) |
Assessment
The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.
| # | Assessment | Type | Weight | Hurdle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Research paper | Written | 100% | — |
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Requisites
The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.
Learning outcomes
- Learn and work with autonomy, accountability and professionalism through a largely self-directed research project.
- Identify and articulate complex legal issues
- Apply legal reasoning and critical analysis skills to generate appropriate responses to legal issues.
- Identify and critically engage with literature and/or research on the legal and policy issues relevant to the student’s chosen research topic.
- Demonstrate cognitive and creative skills in approaching legal issues and generating appropriate responses and developing new understandings
- Demonstrate the intellectual and practical skills needed to interpret legal conclusions and professional decisions, as well as to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues
- Communicate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive for legal and non-legal audiences as appropriate for the particular research project.
Workload
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
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