Module Details

Module Code: LAWS C1R13
Module Title: Legal Research and Communications
Title: Legal Research and Communications
Module Level:: 6
Credits:: 5
Module Coordinator: Eileen Doyle
Module Author:: Ivan Sheeran
Domains:  
Module Description: The aim of this module is to give students a thorough grounding in legal research and communication skills, giving them the ability to gather, assemble and competently communicate legal information.
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Gather, analyse and assimilate legal information from various sources.
LO2 Read and comprehend legal information, and communicate that comprehension in written and verbal form.
LO3 Correctly reference legal sources.
LO4 Apply legal theories to problem scenarios/case studies through research, critical analysis and reasoning.
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is recommended before enrolment in this module.
No recommendations listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Additional Requisite Information
No Co Requisites listed
 
Indicative Content
Legal Research - Sources of Law
• The Constitution • Legislation o The Irish Statute Book – Acts of the Oireachtas and Statutory Instruments o Locating and Understanding Legislation • Common Law/Case Law o Proper use of citation o Finding a case from a citation o Reading and analysing a case o Unreported cases o Determining whether a case has been affected by later authority • EU law • International Law • Scholarly Writings/Journals/Articles, including citation of cases/articles • Electronic sources of law
Legal Communications
• Latin and French Terms Commonly Used in Legal Writing. • Writing Letters, Essays, Assignments & Case Notes • Addressing Problem scenarios • Organization and Presentation of Written Work • Referencing including citations, bibliographies, footnotes, endnotes and plagiarism. • Style of Writing: Accuracy, Relevance & Brevity • Oral and Non-Verbal Communication Skills including presentations
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Continuous Assessment100.00%

Assessments

Full Time

Continuous Assessment
Assessment Type Other % of Total Mark 10
Timing n/a Learning Outcomes 1
Non-marked No
Assessment Description
Assessment 1 The student will be required to source given • Articles from the Constitution • Pieces of legislation (both Acts and Statutory Instruments) • Cases • Provisions of EU Law (including Treaties, legislation and ECJ Decisions) • International treaties/Conventions • Scholarly Writing
Assessment Type Short Answer Questions % of Total Mark 20
Timing n/a Learning Outcomes 3
Non-marked No
Assessment Description
Referencing and Abbreviation Assessment
Assessment Type Other % of Total Mark 20
Timing n/a Learning Outcomes 2,3
Non-marked No
Assessment Description
Assessment 3 The student will be required to read and write a case note (in accordance with given guidelines) on a decision from the Irish High or Supreme Court. (The actual decision will differ each year.)
Assessment Type Other % of Total Mark 30
Timing n/a Learning Outcomes 3,4
Non-marked No
Assessment Description
Assessment 4 Here the students will be given a number of cases to read and a hypothetical problem scenario to solve using principles decided in those cases. The students will be required to draft a legal opinion on the legal issues and likely outcome to the problem scenario. This will be a group project building upon team work skills.
Assessment Type Other % of Total Mark 20
Timing n/a Learning Outcomes 2
Non-marked No
Assessment Description
Assessment 5 The student will be required to prepare and deliver an oral presentation
No Project
No Practical
No End of Module Formal Examination
Reassessment Requirement
Coursework Only
This module is reassessed solely on the basis of re-submitted coursework. There is no repeat written examination.
Reassessment Description
Where students fail the module overall, they will be required to resubmit any or all individual CA components in which a pass grade was not achieved.

SETU Carlow Campus reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Workload Category Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact No Description 12 Weeks per Stage 4.00 48
Independent Learning Time Non Contact No Description 15 Weeks per Stage 5.13 77
Total Weekly Contact Hours 4.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Workload Category Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lecture Contact No Description Every Week 1.00 1
Total Weekly Contact Hours 1.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Jennifer Schweppe,Larry Donnelly,Ronan Kennedy. (2016), How to Think, Write and Cite, Key skills for Irish law students, 2nd. Round Hall, Dublin.
  • DR EDANA. RICHARDSON. (2019), GUIDE TO MOOTING IN IRELAND., Clarus Press, Ireland, [ISBN: 9781911611189].
  • Laura Cahillane and Jennifer Schweppe. (2016), Legal Research Methods: Principles and Practicalities, Clarus Press, Dublin.
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Pope & Hill. (2015), Mooting and Advocacy Skills, 3rd. Sweet & Maxwell, London, [ISBN: 978-041403751].
  • O’Malley, Thomas. (2001), Sources of Law- An Introduction to Legal Research & Writing, RoundHall.
  • Henry Murdoch,Brian Hunt. (2016), Murdoch and Hunt's Dictionary of Irish Law, 5th Ed.. Bloomsbury Publishing, p.1920, [ISBN: 9781780438955].
  • Byrne & McCutcheon. (2021), Byrne & McCutcheon on the Irish Legal System, 7th. Bloomsbury Professional, Dublin.
  • Kenneally & Tully. (2013), The Irish Legal System, Clarus Press, Dublin.
  • Donovan, Dorothy. (2010), The Irish Legal System, RoundHall.
Recommended Article/Paper Resources
  • The Irish Law Times.
  • Dublin University law Journal.
  • Annual Review of Irish Law, 1987 to present.
Other Resources
Discussion Note: