This unit is different from other elective offerings in the Law School. Students are required to work under supervision to research and produce a dissertation of 10,000- 12,000 words and attend scheduled research training seminars.

A dissertation is a substantial paper that is based on independent research and provides evidence of the student's mastery of the approved course area and of scholarly method. It is a minor thesis and should not be confused with an essay which is an analytical, interpretative or broadly critical composition and which is normally much shorter and less systematic than a dissertation.

The aim of the unit is to assist students to develop and further , refine and advance their legal research and legal writing skills to a level which will enable students to consider postgraduate study in law. The unit is not open to all students. Students wishing to enrol must have an average in law units of a CREDIT grade or better in order to be granted permission to enrol.