Law Dissertations

A Step-by-Step Guide
3. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-041-07624-7
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 298 Seiten, Format (B × H): 156 mm x 234 mm

Law Dissertations: A Step-by-Step Guide provides law students with all the guidance and information they need to complete and succeed in their LLB, LLM, or law-related dissertation. Written in an accessible, clear format and packed with practical tools to help put theory into practice, Laura Lammasniemi shows students how to approach dissertation writing with confidence.

The primary aim of this book is to tackle the issues that cause anxiety for law students undertaking a dissertation, so that they can focus on the research they find genuinely exciting. As well as explaining the research process and outlining the various legal research approaches, the book provides practical, step-by-step guidance on how to formulate a proposal, research plan, and literature review. It demystifies the stages of dissertation writing that most commonly cause difficulty, from referencing and methodology to navigating supervision and structuring an argument.

New to this edition:

- Dedicated guidance on working with generative AI tools, helping students understand where these tools can genuinely enhance their work and where caution is essential.

- Expanded guidance for LLM and Masters students, including empirical research methodology and ethics, and up-to-date advice on conducting research using online resources.

- A brand-new final chapter guiding those considering doctoral study through the process of preparing a PhD proposal.

Packed with exercises, worked examples, and tools for self-evaluation, Law Dissertations: A Step-by-Step Guide is an essential companion for law students at every stage of their dissertation journey.

Zielgruppe

Undergraduate Advanced and Undergraduate Core

Autoren/Hrsg.

Lammasniemi, Laura

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Sprachwissenschaft Schreiben und Publizieren, Kreatives Schreiben
• Rechtswissenschaften Recht, Rechtswissenschaft Allgemein

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1 Introduction. 2 Finding and perfecting your topic. 3 From a topic to a question. 4 Creating a good research proposal. 5 Planning the project. 6 Creating a research plan. 7 Online research. 8 Legal research methods and approaches. 9 Empirical research. 10 Assessing literature. 11 Literature review. 12 Writing the dissertation. 13 Referencing. 14 Structuring the dissertation. 15 Navigating supervision. 16 Aiming for a first and avoiding fails. 17 Preparing for submission. 18 Preparing a PhD Proposal.

Über Autor(innen)

Laura Lammasniemi is an Associate Professor at Warwick Law School, where she convenes the finalist Supervised Project module. She has led and consulted on dissertation modules at several institutions, and her teaching focuses on dissertation writing and criminal law. Her research focuses on criminal law and gender from a historical perspective. She has published widely on the histories of sexual offences, the age of consent, trafficking in women, and colonial legal history. She has spoken at the House of Commons on human trafficking and has appeared on BBC television and radio as an expert in legal history.