This course is available on the LLB in Laws. This course is not available as an outside option nor to General Course students.

Where either a second or third year LLB student is taking the equivalent of three-and-a-half subjects she/he may make up the final half-subject by writing a 6- 8,000 word half-unit dissertation on a legal topic approved by the Law Department.

Students wishing to do a half-unit dissertation should first consult their academic adviser in the preceding summer term to discuss:

• whether a dissertation is a suitable option for the student

• the particular dissertation topic

• who might be an appropriate dissertation supervisor

In light of their discussion with their academic adviser, a student wishing to pursue this option should approach a possible supervisor for their approval. The supervisor of the dissertation must be a permanent or ex-permanent member of staff.

It is not be possible to submit a full-unit dissertation, LL299 and half-unit dissertation, LL298 in the same year.

Because this option requires considerable independent study, it is generally not advisable to opt to write a dissertation unless the student has been achieving marks of an upper second class standard in their examinations to date. The dissertation subject must be of a suitable academic character which has not already or will not have been explored in depth in any taught subject taken by the student but is related to subjects taught in the School. It is necessary for a student to have the approval of both a member of staff who is willing to supervise the dissertation and the Chair of the LLB Part I and II Exam Board for the proposed dissertation by 31 October of the year in question. Once they have their supervisor’s approval, students will need to make a formal detailed application to the Chair of Exams for approval; a form for this will be circulated to those writing a dissertation early in the MT.

The essay should be word processed and be accompanied by a bibliography. Footnotes can be placed at the end of the text or at the bottom of the page to which they relate (the latter is preferable). The dissertation should be 6,000-8,000 words in length (including footnotes and excluding bibliography). The supervisor will be available to provide some guidance but it is intended that the student should do his/her own research. The dissertation should be submitted not later than the first day of the ST.

1 hour of lectures in the MT.

Beyond the one-to-one sessions held with the dissertation supervisor there is no formal teaching. However, there is a one hour session held in the Michaelmas term for all half-unit and full-unit dissertation students to orient them to the requirements of writing a dissertation.

There is no essential reading as such, but there is a dedicated moodle site for the LLB dissertation options.

Dissertation (100%, 8000 words) in the ST.