LAW4173 Research unit
Faculty of Law
LAW4173 Research unit is a level 4, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Law, offered in 2026 in Summer A, Semester 1, Semester 2 and Summer B at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Summer A, Semester 1, Semester 2, Summer B
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 1 task
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before LAW4173
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After LAW4173
No unit lists LAW4173 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Enrolment rules
You must have completed at least 60 credit points of law study
Overview
This is a program of individual and independent research and writing on a legal topic which has been approved by the Chief Examiner after consultation with the proposed supervisor. You will develop skills in legal research methods to produce a substantial piece of written legal research (between 5,000 and 6,000 words) under the supervision of an academic member of staff.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Summer semester A | Clayton | On campus |
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
| Summer semester B | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Research paperWritten100%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Learn and work with autonomy, accountability and professionalism through a largely self-directed research project.
- 2
Identify and articulate complex legal issues
- 3
Apply legal reasoning and critical analysis skills to generate appropriate responses to legal issues.
- 4Identify and critically engage with literature and/or research on the legal and policy issues relevant to the student’s chosen research topic.
- 5
Demonstrate cognitive and creative skills in approaching legal issues and generating appropriate responses and developing new understandings
- 6
Demonstrate the intellectual and practical skills needed to interpret legal conclusions and professional decisions, as well as to identify, research, evaluate and synthesise relevant factual, legal and policy issues
- 7
Communicate in ways that are effective, appropriate and persuasive for legal and non-legal audiences as appropriate for the particular research project.
Workload and teaching
- Teaching approachResearch activities
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. The unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
Learning resources
Required resources
See the Moodle unit page for prescribed and recommended resources. Prescribed texts are usually available for purchase through the University Bookstore and are sometimes available for short-term loan or as eBooks through the library.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Tyrone Berger
- Jennifer Paneth
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for LAW4173?
LAW4173 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is LAW4173 offered?
In 2026, LAW4173 runs in Summer A, Semester 1, Semester 2 and Summer B at Clayton.
How much work is LAW4173?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does LAW4173 have an exam?
No. LAW4173 has 1 assessment task and no exam.