General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW1016 |
| Course name: | Legal Research and Writing |
| Programme offered under: | LLB Programme |
| Semester: | First |
| Designated research course: | Not applicable |
| Specialization: | Not applicable |
| Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | No |
| Course offered to non-law students: | No |
| Credit point value: | 6 credits |
1.2 Course description
Legal Research and Writing is a foundation skills course offered in the first semester of the first year. It introduces students to judgments, ordinances, and specific genres such as case notes and legal memoranda. As a practice-focused skills course, the lectures and tutorials work in tandem to help students develop the following inter-related skills, which are essential for the study of other law subjects and for future legal work:
- Legal analysis: to closely read and analyze common law judgements, to use and interpret legislation, and to identify legal issues from fact patterns.
- Research: to identify and locate appropriate cases, legislation, and secondary sources.
- Legal writing: to write succinctly and effectively, and to construct logical and persuasive arguments.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor / tutor | Sarah Cheng |
chengsa@hku.hk | CCT 709 | By email |
| Course tutor | Jack Chan | cykjack@hku.hk | n/a | By email |
| Course tutor | Raymond Chu | rchu@hku.hk | n/a | By email |
| Course tutor | Simon Kwok | kwokcls@hku.hk | n/a | By email |
| Course tutor | Kevin Leung | kleungky@hku.hk | n/a | By email |
| Course tutor | Dickie Mok | hdmok@hku.hk | n/a | By email |
| Course tutor | Ivan Suen | imhsuen@hku.hk | n/a | By email |
| Course tutor | Natasha Trapla | ntrapla@hku.hk | n/a | By email |
| Course tutor | Dixon Tse | dixonsct@hku.hk | n/a | By email |
| Course tutor | Jeremy Yau | jyau@parksidechambers.com | n/a | By email |
| Course tutor | Thomas Yeon | thomas.yeon@18lc.com | n/a | By email |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 Identify legal issues from factual problems.
CLO 2 Use appropriate legal research methods to find relevant case law and legislation.
CLO 3 Conduct analysis and close reading of case law and legislation.
CLO 4 Demonstrate legal reasoning skills.
CLO 5 Use correct legal terminology in both written and oral arguments.
CLO 6 Demonstrate the correct use of English, including spelling, grammar, and syntax.
CLO 7 Express complex ideas clearly and concisely in writing.
2.2 LLB Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Please refer to the following link: https://course.law.hku.hk/llb-plo/
2.3 Programme Learning Outcomes to be achieved in this course
| PLO A | PLO B | PLO C | PLO D | PLO E | PLO F | |
| CLO 1 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 3 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 4 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 6 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| CLO 7 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Class contribution, participation in tutorials | 15% | 1-5 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7 |
| Writing exercises / presentations | 35% | 1-5 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7 |
| In-hall exam | 50% | 1-3 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,7 |
| *Feedback method (to be determined by course teacher) | |
| 1 | A general course report to be disseminated through Moodle |
| 2 | Individual feedback to be disseminated by email / through Moodle |
| 3 | Individual review meeting upon appointment |
| 4 | Group review meeting |
| 5 | In-class verbal feedback |
3.2 Assessment Detail
We will discuss each assessment area in more detail during class. Rubrics and additional guidelines will be available as assignments are distributed.
Final assessment will be in December 2025 (precise date TBA). Details will be announced via Moodle nearer the time.
3.3 Grading Criteria
Please refer to the following link: https://www.law.hku.hk/_files/law_programme_grade_descriptors.pdf
Learning Activities
4.1 Learning Activity Plan
| Lecture: | 1 hour / week for 12 teaching weeks |
| Tutorial: | 2 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
| Private study time: | 9.5 hours / week for 12 teaching weeks |
Remarks: the normative student study load per credit unit is 25 ± 5 hours (ie. 150 ± 30 hours for a 6-credit course), which includes all learning activities and experiences within and outside of classroom, and any assessment task and examinations and associated preparations.
4.2 Details of Learning Activities
To be advised by course convenor(s).
Learning Resources
5.1 Resources
| Reading materials: | Reading materials are posted to Moodle |
| Core reading list: | TBA |
| Recommended reading list: | TBA |
5.2 Links
Please refer to the following link: http://www.law.hku.hk/course/learning-resources/-