Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives To give students enrolled in the graduate program advanced instruction in the methods of legal research through use of the print-based and computerised resources of the Monash library system; (2) to ensure proficiency on the part of the students in the use of essential research tools; (3) to familiarise graduate students with the library resources and research methods in disciplines allied to law to which legal researchers might be expected to make reference; (4) to heighten awareness of ethical standards to be observed in legal research and writing.
Synopsis The subject will provide instruction in legal skills through secondary sources (textbooks, bibliographies, looseleaf services); primary sources (judicial and legislative); government publications; on-line and on-disk information databases and international, as well as local sources of information. In addition, it will cover the nature of research, the development formulation and execution of a research question, with particular reference to the benefits of interdisciplinary approaches and ethical issues in research. The organisation, writing-up and evaluation of research will also be examined. This subject is to be offered on a pass/fail basis only. No grade higher than pass will be awarded.
Assessment Series of short research exercises: 50% + Design, class presentation and classroom defence of a larger scale `research plan' for an interdisciplinary approach to a research problem: 50%