| Unit name | Advanced Legal and Socio-Legal Research Methods |
|---|---|
| Unit code | LAWDM0084 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Professor. Bibbings |
| Open unit status | Open |
| Pre-requisites |
None |
| Co-requisites |
LAWDM0083 |
| School/department | University of Bristol Law School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
This unit provides a core element in the MSc in Socio-Legal Research. Students are taught general research methods and philosophy of the social sciences separately. This course therefore concentrates on substantive issues of sociology of law. It examines both the role of law in the classical theorists of sociology, notably Marx, Durkheim and Weber, and more recent approaches, including Foucault, Bourdiue and feminist work. The examination of the application of social theory to law includes both public and private law. No prior knowledge of law or of sociology is assumed, although the course assumes participation in the core research methods and philosophy of social science courses alongside it. More detailed applications of the theoretical content take place in the options and the compulsory dissertation.
By the end of the unit, a successful student will be able to:
a) explain and critically assess the structure and methods of the English Legal System;
b) explain and critically assess a range of socio-legal methods and issues in research ethics;
c) utilise this knowledge and these methods in their writing and research In relation to c) they should be able to assess research proposals and develop their own research proposals, considering the usefulness and appropriateness of different methods as well as the ethical issues raised by a proposal This unit is also intended to improve skills relating to research – in particular, the ability to assess and write research proposals. The research proposal provides a means of assessing what they have learned throughout the unit and whether they are able not only to think critically about it but also to utilise it in devising their own programmes of research.
10 x 2 hour seminars
5,000 word research proposal
William Twinning and David Meirs, How to Do Things with Rules (Cambridge:CUP, 2010) 5th ed; John Knowles and Philip Thomas Effective Legal Research (London: Sweet and Maxwell 2009) 2nd ed; C F Stychin and Linda Mulcahy, Legal Method: Text and Materials, (3rd ed. London: Sweet & Maxwell, 2007); Simon Halliday and Patrick Schmidt Conducting Law and Social Research (Cambridge: CUP, 2009) ; Reza Banaker and Max Travers Theory and Method in Socio-Legal Research (Oxford: Hart 2005); Phil Thomas (ed.) Socio-Legal Studies (Dartmouth: Ashgate, 1997)
