LAW 456 : Supervised Research

Law

2023 Summer School (1230) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A research paper, approved by the Dean of Faculty of Law, written under the supervision of a teacher in the Faculty of Law.

Course Overview

Where you can demonstrate research capability in Law (e.g. by previously having completed a PILO or other
extended piece of legal writing) you can seek permission to enrol on this course to write a 10,000-word
research paper. The paper must be on an approved topic under the supervision of a teacher in the Faculty of
Law.
To be granted permission to enrol on this course you must, by the end of the second week of semester,
(i) think of and define a research topic,
(ii) seek agreement from a teacher to supervise your research and writing on this topic,
(iii) complete, and have signed by your supervisor, the LAW 456 application form (available here: https://www.forms.auckland.ac.nz/en/student/law/law-456-supervised-research-topic-approval-and-enrolment-reque.html) and
(iv) submit the completed application to the Associate Dean (Academic) for their final approval.

Supervised research papers are due on the Friday of the last week of teaching in the semester in which you
are enrolled. This course can be taken as a summer semester course.

This course fulfills the writing requirement for LAW 498.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Laws

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Indentify, formulate and refine a research question on a high level legal topic. (Capability 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1 and 5.2)
  2. Use advanced legal research skills and methodologies, research ethics and a structured research trail to develop a framework of investigation for a sustained piece of original legal research. (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3)
  3. Create and engage in a constructive one-to-one working relationship with a supervisor where expectations and responsibilities on both sides are agreed to so as to support the managed completion of a sustained writing project. (Capability 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1 and 5.2)
  4. Demonstrate advanced legal research and writing skills to a high level in a complex area of law by producing a structured, cohesive, authoritative paper which contributes to and expands thinking in that area. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Essay 100% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Essay

Workload Expectations

This is a 15-point course. The guideline for the total guided, self-study workload for this course is 150 hours.


Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

There are no classes for this course, it involves individual, self-directed study with the support of a supervisor.
You may seek support from the Director of Legal Writing, as well as your supervisor, for assistance with regard
to the planning, structuring and writing of your research paper.


Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

This course is not evaluated through the University's systems. 

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course director, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a Student Academic and Support Adviser as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 01/11/2022 11:09 a.m.