How to Write a Law Dissertation
- Tutorlect
- Aug 17, 2024
- 4 min read
Introduction
A law dissertation is a significant piece of academic work that enables students to demonstrate their research, analytical, and writing abilities. Writing a dissertation can be daunting, but by following structured steps, students can approach the task methodically, ensuring a high-quality piece of work. This article offers a short guide to writing a law dissertation, including advice on topic selection, research methods, structure, and writing techniques.
Choosing a Topic
Selecting a suitable dissertation topic is the foundation of successful research. It must balance between being sufficiently narrow to allow for in-depth analysis and broad enough to find adequate resources. Students should choose a subject that they are passionate about, but also one that offers substantial legal questions or problems to analyse.
Tip: Ensure your topic is original. Conduct a literature review to confirm that your chosen area of research contributes something new to the legal field. For instance, an exploration of evolving jurisprudence in digital privacy law may present an opportunity for original analysis.
Developing a Research Question
Once a topic is selected, narrowing it down into a precise research question is critical. The research question will guide the dissertation and should be specific, clear, and manageable. For example, instead of "The Role of Human Rights Law," a better question could be, "To what extent has the European Convention on Human Rights influenced domestic privacy laws in the UK?"
Tip: The research question should reflect current legal challenges and have a well-defined scope.
Research Methodology
Law dissertations typically employ doctrinal (black-letter) research or socio-legal methods. Doctrinal research involves analysing statutes, case law and legal literature to solve a legal problem or question. In contrast, socio-legal research integrates legal analysis with social science methods, such as surveys or interviews.
Tip: Choose the appropriate methodology depending on your research question. A doctrinal approach may suit a case-law analysis, while empirical methods might be better for studying the impact of law on society.
Structuring Your Law Dissertation
A typical law dissertation follows a standard structure:
Title Page
This includes the title of your dissertation, your name, institution, and submission date.
Abstract
A concise summary of your research, including the research question, methodology, and key findings. Typically, 150-300 words.
Introduction
The introduction presents the research question, justifies the importance of the topic, and outlines the structure of the dissertation. The introduction should provide the reader with a roadmap of the research, including its aims and objectives.
Literature Review
The literature review critically assesses existing research related to your topic. This section demonstrates your understanding of the field and how your dissertation fits into the larger academic discourse.
Methodology
In this section, you describe and justify the research methods you employed to address your research question. You must explain why your chosen approach is suitable for answering the research question.
Analysis/ Discussion
This is the core of your dissertation, where you present your arguments, analyse legal sources, and address the research question. Ensure you remain focused on answering the question and avoid tangents.
Conclusion
The conclusion summarises your findings, restates the importance of your research, and may suggest areas for further study.
Bibliography
A comprehensive list of all sources cited in your dissertation.
Tip: Organise your thoughts and arguments clearly. Each section should logically lead to the next.
Legal Research and Analysis
Legal research is the backbone of any law dissertation. This involves sourcing relevant cases, statutes and legal commentaries. Use legal databases such as Westlaw, LexisNexis or HeinOnline for academic journals and case law. Ensure that your analysis is critical and not just descriptive. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the law in relation to your research question.
Tip: When discussing case law, consider explaining how the case is relevant to your argument and critically evaluate judicial reasoning.
Writing and Referencing
The writing process is iterative. Drafting, editing and refining are crucial to producing a polished dissertation. Write clearly and concisely, avoiding overly complex language. Ensure that your legal analysis is well-supported by evidence.
Proper referencing is critical in legal writing to avoid plagiarism and support your arguments. Most law schools use the Oxford University Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities (OSCOLA) style, but some institutions may prefer Harvard or another referencing style. Be sure to adhere to the specific guidelines provided by your institution.
For a FREE guide to OSCOLA referencing, click here.
For a FREE guide to Harvard referencing, click here.
For more information - including helpful handouts and referencing worksheets - go to our shop.
Tip: Use footnotes for citations and include a bibliography at the end of your dissertation.
Editing and Proofreading
After completing the first draft, take time to revise and edit. Focus on clarity, coherence, and argument strength. Proofread for grammatical errors, proper citation and formatting consistency. Consider asking a peer or professional proofreading service to review your dissertation. Our tutors have collectively written and marked thousands of assessments - get in touch for our Tutorlect-guaranteed quality proofreading service.
Tip: Editing is not just about correcting errors; it's about improving the overall quality of your work.
Conclusion
A law dissertation is a significant academic challenge but also an opportunity to explore a legal issue in-depth. By carefully choosing a topic, formulating a research question, conducting thorough research, and following a clear structure, students can produce a dissertation that demonstrates academic rigour and contributes to legal scholarship. Remember to stay organised, seek feedback, and remain focused on your research question throughout the writing process.
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