General Course Information
1.1 Course details
| Course code: | LLAW6022 / JDOC6022 |
| Course name: | Advanced Research Methodology |
| Programme offered under: | LLM Programme / JD Programme |
| Semester: | First |
| Prerequisites / Co-requisites: | No |
| Credit point value: | 9 credits / 6 credits |
1.2 Course description
This is an introductory course focusing on how to conceptualise and execute legal research projects using different methodological tools and techniques. We will examine a range of research methodologies pertaining to doctrinal, theoretical, comparative and empirical approaches to law. We will also explore the practicalities of conceiving, designing, planning, executing and evaluating a legal research project such as a PhD thesis, as well as the art of communicating research to different audiences.
1.3 Course teachers
| Name | E-mail address | Office | Consultation | |
| Course convenor | Matthew Harding | TBA | TBA | By email |
Learning Outcomes
2.1 Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) for this course
CLO 1 Describe and explain key methodologies and approaches to legal scholarship including doctrinal, theoretical, comparative and empirical methodologies and approaches.
CLO 2 Reflect critically on the strengths and limitations of different approaches to legal scholarship drawing on methodological literature and debates
CLO 3 Apply the knowledge and understanding acquired in the course in the design, execution and evaluation of legal research projects such as a PhD thesis.
CLO 4 Demonstrate an awareness of some key questions and debates in methodological literature on legal scholarship.
CLO 5 Communicate legal research effectively to different audiences both academic and non-academic.
2.2 LLM and JD Programme Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Please refer to the following link:
LLM – https://course.law.hku.hk/llm-plo/
JD – https://course.law.hku.hk/jd-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 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Assessment(s)
3.1 Assessment Summary
| Assessment task | Due date | Weighting | Feedback method* | Course learning outcomes |
| Class participation | NA | 10% | 1 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| Class presentation | 16 & 19 Nov 2024 | 20% | 1, 2 | 5 |
| Written final assessment | 6 Dec 2024 | 70% | 1, 2 | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| *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
To be advised by course convenor(s).
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
| Seminar: | 3 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 on 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/