The following guide outlines how to structure a LLM dissertation.


Title Page – showing the title of the dissertation and writer.


Abstract – summarising what the dissertation comprises. Be concise and don’t reference or use quotations. This should showcase your work so ensure it is accurate and weighty (150 – 300 words).

Table of contents – Make sure page numbers are accurate

Introduction – Should be about 10% of the dissertation in total. It should be a very crisp and accurate introduction of the dissertation. Make it interesting so that the reader's interest is engaged.

Methodology - this explains what you are going to do and how you plan on achieving this. In a legal dissertation it is most likely that qualitative research will be utilised. Quantitative research (eg survey of cases perhaps) can be used but it is likely that most legal dissertations will be derived from either academic journals/books or statute.

Literature Review – a review of relevant theory and the most recent published information on the issue. Sometimes there are dissertations with no literature review: it depends on the topic and whether you consider it necessary (e.g is there plenty of published literature/theory?).

Evidence – set out your findings and your conclusions from your research. This should not be merely descriptive but must be analytical and critical of your findings, moving towards a detailed and visionary strategy for development.

Conclusion – set out in summary what you have discovered and your conclusions. Do not include in your conclusions anything which has not been addressed earlier in your work.

Recommendations – In a legal dissertation you should include these to give an indication of the analytical nature of your mind. In particular suggest areas of the law which are ripe for reform and suggest the reforms you would invoke. If reforms are already underway these should be analysed and criticised if necessary, substituting your own suggested reforms.

  I have previously looked at answering problem questions but this article deals with such questions in more depth.

There are basically four main considerations when tackling problem questions.

1. Identify key facts of the case/scenario. Only by resolving these key facts can you address the resolution of the problem.
   
   
2. Identify key areas of law.
   
   
3. Application of law to the facts in order to resolve the question.
   
   
4. Consider the type of conclusion required. This will vary with each question. If you are asked to advise on the defences available to a person, based on the scenario given, your conclusion can be general. You may decide to say something along the lines that recent case law indicates that sentencing for such crimes is becoming more lenient.You could offer an opinion as to why this is the case.
   
   

 SCENARIO

Mark recently received planning permission from ABC Council to add a large extension to his semi-detached bungalow. He has undertaken the work himself and has been hammering and drilling well past midnight. His next door neighbour Jill is a light sleeper and has been kept awake with the noise which has been persistent over the last 2 weeks. Mark has started depositing his building rubble on top of his wall and fumes from tins of paint have contaminated Jill’s greenhouse causing her prized dahlias to wilt and die. Jill did have a word with Mark asking him to stop making a noise so late on and to dispose of his rubbish. Unfortunately Mark has ignored requests to alter his behaviour. Does Jill have any claim(s) against Mark?

 

Important facts.

Mark has planning permission to extend his home.

He regularly carries out noisy building works past midnight.

This behaviour keeps his neighbour Jill awake.

Jill is a light sleeper.

Mark’s rubbish has been left for days on top of a wall which has caused fumes to infiltrate Jill’s greenhouse and kill her prized dahlia plants.

Mark ignores requests to behave responsibly.
 

Identify appropriate law.

1       Nuisance would seem to be the appropriate law.

2       There are 2 types of nuisance but this is a private as against public nuisance.

3          Anyone may sue who has use or enjoyment of land but additionally they must have a proprietary interest in the land (Hunter v Canary Wharf).

4        Define “unreasonable” use of land. Explain it depends on numerous factors: locality, duration, over-sensitivity of claimant may defeat a claim and malice may indicate a nuisance. Cases to cite for locality where a nuisance occurring in a highly built up or industrialised area is less likely to be actionable (Sturges v Bridgman); continuous duration versus one-off event (Bolton v Stone), over-sensitivity of claimant (Robinson v Kilvert) and malice (Christie v Davy). 

Shortly we will look at possible defences and remedies.

One of the main differences between writing at LLM level as compared to LLB level is the length of dissertation. Most LLB assignments are up to 4,000 words but typically are 1,000 to 3,000 words. When faced with writing an LLM dissertation, students are faced with submitting work of at least 10,000 words. Such a task is daunting for most students especially when it is such an important piece of work in the scheme of the qualification.

What is a Dissertation?

A dissertation, sometimes known as a thesis or final assignment, will be a document of 10,000 words or over. The document will present the findings of the results of research into a specific area of the law studied. LLM courses are extremely specialised and in depth exploration of a specific area of law is required.

A great deal of thought should be given to the subject to be studied. Sufficient time should be allocated by students to possible areas of research and to hopefully choose exactly the right one for them. Once a decision has been made in relation to the subject matter of the LL.M dissertation, it will be very difficult and time consuming for the student to change their mind. It is therefore important that the correct decision is made initially.

Once the student has decided on the subject matter they must consult with their tutor as to the suitability of the subject towards the LLM qualification. Often LLM courses require the submission of a written outline before the dissertation subject is accepted.

Precious little guidance is given on the writing of a dissertation and yet it is an important ingredient of the LLM qualification. Do not leave writing an Outline or Dissertation to chance. Contact www.law-essay.com for guidance and assistance.

Very little guidance is offered at universities on structuring case notes. The following should assist with structuring the case note and help you concentrate on various aspects to be examined.

Firstly read the case extremely carefully at least once taking note of all authorities cited by the court. Secondly make notes of pertinent points as you read the case a second time.

 Structure of the case note.

The structure is particularly important in a case note as unlike an essay or coursework, the question relies entirely on the case given. The area of concentration is therefore specific and narrow although you will have to consider whether the case has wider impact.

Introduction.

As with an essay or coursework you should always introduce the area of law impacted by the case and why the case is worthy of such attention.

Facts.

Only relevant facts should be presented in an orderly and logical manner. You must extrapulate the main facts and not just give a running commentary on the case. Also bear in mind that courts often distinguish cases on their facts. Describe any lower courts decision, appeals and any subsequent action. After reading the facts section the reader should have a clear idea of the critical facts and the setting in which the current court is giving its judgment. 

The decision.

Set out the court’s reasoning behind its judgment (ratio). Mention any words said by the way (obiter dicta).

 Background or Discussion of Prior Law.

In this section, provide the reader with the relevant background law relating to the issues regardless of whether discussed in the decisions. Describe the existing law and its development. In closing this section, relate the selected case to the prior law to illustrate how, if at all, the selected case affects prior law.

 Reasoning or Analysis.

After describing and critically analysing the court’s reasoning you should be able to express your own view. Remain objective but point out any flaws you detect in the judgment. Support your criticisms with appropriate authorities. You may agree with any dissenting judgments and if so explain why. If you detect ambiguity in the court’s reasoning you should explore such statements.

Examine whether the judgment affects the existing law or whether there are any proposals for reform in this area of the law. Refer to Law Commissions or Parliamentary Committees for example.

This section gives you the opportunity to demonstrate legal skill and incisiveness by dissecting the case and raising important issues.

 Subsequent Developments.

If the case is not that recent, you will need to consider whether the decision has been affected, modified, approved or overruled in later cases.

 Conclusion.

Bring your case note full circle, reinforcing the “noteworthiness” of the selected case and summarising the points made in each topical section.

 

Case note assignments are popular because they require students to demonstrate the ability to:

• Understand the case report, concentrating on material facts and reasons for the decision
• Be discerning as to the policy context of the case within the legal framework
• Analyse the legal reasoning in the case and explore any impact on future cases and any impact on past legal decisions

The first of these tasks involves explanation so that you demonstrate your comprehension of the law report.
The second and third tasks involve analysing whereby you examine the impact of the case and also explore any flaws in reasoning.

Thinking analytically.  Utilising the following questions will help you with your case note

• What is your view of the decision in particular the court's legal analysis? 
• What is your view on the issue before the court? 
• Do you think they dealt with the issue correctly? 
• Do you agree with any dissenting judgments?
• Do you agree with the reasoning of the court and its supporting evidence and corroboration? 
• Could you suggest improvements on the court's approach?
• Can you identify any proposals for reforms connected with the case and its impact on future development of the law? 
• Have there been statutory changes that might affect this type of case?
• Is there other reputable commentary which assists in your interpretation and opinion of the case law.

 

The conclusion of an essay is just as important as the other parts. I would argue that it is extremely important as it leaves a lasting impression by virtue of being the last section read by an examiner.

It draws together all previous points and ultimately should leave the reader satisfied that all angles have been explored and a sensible analysis reached. It should stimulate the reader and stretch their imagination but should also be corroborated by academic authorities. It must not discuss any items not previously explored and must be a synopsis of everything arising previously.

A conclusion must be well balanced so that a considered opinion of alternative views is set out and thoroughly analysed. A conclusion will vary depending on the type of essay. A problem solving scenario type essay will not have much reflection but will concentrate on applying the law and make various assumptions with a relatively brief conclusion. A thought provoking essay title which often involves your views on a quotation will have a lengthy and often philosophical conclusion.     

I have been receiving many requests for Masters level essays and originally only offered an Outline. However due to popular demand I am now accepting Masters work in addition to undergraduate work. The main difference, apart from the degree of difficulty involving the subject matter, is the amount of research involved. In addition there is often a requirement, even if not explicitly stated, to discuss various legal theories. Masters level essays require detailed and extensive research and so I like at least 7 days to undertake the work.

This bulletin is to make you aware that you can now order Masters essays with the same confidence as ordering undergraduate essays.

The difference between a higher end 2(i) and a first class degree is often the style of the essay rather than the content.

In these increasingly competitive days when employers and further academic institutions have their pick of applicants, obtaining the highest mark possible is critical.

If employers have several application forms on their desks, and one has a first class degree whilst the remainder have a 2 (i), it is natural that employers will be attracted to the person with the higher class degree.

 You may have taken hours researching and writing the essay but a further 30 minutes spent improving its appearance is time well spent. Yet often students are so relieved to have actually finished the essay that scant attention is given to its layout.

Although there is an old saying of not judging a book by its cover, it is generally accepted that people are influenced by first appearances.

Imagine you are house hunting and the garden of one house is unkempt with junk in the garden whilst another looks like Kew Gardens. Most people would instinctively choose to look at the house with the well kept garden presuming that the outside will mirror the inside. Their presumption may be false but the
important thing is that the decisions is made. The owner of the house with the neglected garden may miss out on a viewing because of the state of the garden when in fact the interior may be in pristine condition.

So what can you do about it? It goes without saying that a spelling and grammar check are important. Always bearing in mind that a spell check will not necessarily indicate if an incorrect word is used.

The essay should begin with a well defined introduction of a few sentences.The structure of the essay should be consistent. If you start by indenting paragraphs, make sure you adhere to this throughout. Similarly maintain the same referencing, so do not mix Harvard and Oxford. Make sure that you have used the referencing style preferred by your college or university. Ensure that footnotes are in the same type face and that the type face used is universally applied depending on whether it is text or footnotes.

Pay attention to the way you cite things in the footnotes so that it is consistent. The same applies to the bibliography. When compiling the bibliography, make sure you insert the edition, year and publisher.

Academic work also looks more appealing if you right justify it. It will look much neater and self contained.

Make sure that if you are referring to the European Convention on Human Rights several times, after the first reference, add (“ECHR”) to avoid lengthy repetition.

If you are writing coursework, make sure that there are clear headings to break the work up into different topics and aspects.

Read the essay one last time and delete any repetition or meaningless words whilst ensuring you adhere to the word limit.

 Contact www.law-essay.com

Writing an academic essay, particularly in law, is an acquired art.
Unfortunately essay writing is not taught in law schools but it is not too late  to learn how to write a competent law essay.


A law essay writing service can help you achieve your goals. In these  competitive days it pays to have the edge on those around you. Essays can count towards your overall mark and performance and therefore impact your qualification.
You want to stand out from the crowd. How do you go about it?
You could spend an inordinate amount of time writing the essay yourself. At the end your essay should be proofread by a reliable and competent proofreader who does more than merely check the spelling and grammar.


Alternatively you may be struggling to write the essay. Most students know the answer or possibilities to a question but have difficulty in structuring the essay. This is what lets them down in the final analysis with the examiner scratching his head and deciding which low mark to give the essay. Structure, content and presentation are everything.


A custom law essay written by a consummate professional is an invaluable aid to most students. An essay should be used as an example and research tool to assist the student to write his/her own essay. The essay should not be passed off as the student's own work. The student should study the layout of the essay and how the facts and arguments are presented. Students may be taught the law at college and university but they are not taught how to answer a question and write an essay.
Writing law essays has a particular formula which is not inherent in most people. It has to be taught but it rarely is, hence the rise and popularity of essay writing companies. Once students are taught how to
approach and answer a question, that formula can be applied to other questions. Law is a topic which requires a particular approach when it comes to answering problem questions in particular.


Most students find problem questions, involving several facts in a given scenario, daunting. The facts can be complicated in themselves and often the question invites you to assess the liability of the characters involved. The general rule is that the law should be stated and applied but this is not as easy as it sounds. Once you have a custom law essay written for you then it all becomes clearer. Many students only ever require one custom essay as they can  pick up the formula and apply it for themselves to future questions.


If you want to gain an advantage, contact http://www.law-essay.com for your essay writing,
and proofreading requirements.


 

 The value in writing an interesting essay is that the examiner will be more  likely to give you extra marks. Imagine how you would feel if you read thousands  of essays and they were factually accurate but didn’t catch the examiner’s  imagination or interest. Then out of nowhere he comes across an essay which is
written in a lively thought provoking way. The optimum time to catch the  examiner’s attention is at the start of the essay.


Let me take a specific case to illustrate the above. The landmark case of  Donoghue v Stevenson (1932) was important in setting down the neighbour test in  deciding to whom a duty of care is owed under the tort of negligence. The facts  concerned the remnants of a snail in a bottle of ginger beer which was sold to a  lady who became ill after drinking from the bottle and sued the manufacturers  under the tort of negligence. The manufacturers denied that they owed a duty of  care to the lady. In the notorious judgment of Lord Atkin the court decided  that:


“You must take reasonable care to avoid acts or omissions which you can  reasonably foresee would be likely to injure your neighbour. Who, then,  in law, is my neighbour? The answer seems to be, persons who are so closely and  directly affected by my act that I ought reasonably to have them in
contemplation as being so affected when I am directing my mind to the acts or  omissions that are called in question.”


It is correct that the introduction of an essay should set the background and  scene for the remainder of the essay. This can be done in a safe predictable but uninspired way with words such as:
“This essay will discuss the ramifications of the judgment set down in  Donoghue v Stephenson and its development since”.


Consider how much more interesting the following introduction is:
 “Imagine how a partly decomposed snail could cause such a furore in the law of negligence.”


The second example is infinitely more exciting and promises more interesting commentary so the examiner will look forward to reading the entire essay. Of  course a snappy title will not compensate for sloppy writing or the application  of incorrect legal principles. However an essay which contains correct grammar, spelling and application of the law will be enhanced by an inspiring introduction.


Most people work on the principle that first impressions count in several walks of life. If you are looking for a new house and the first room you are shown is cluttered with belongings and in an untidy state it creates a bad impression and contributes to a negative attitude of the house. When you go towards the next room you are expecting a continuation of shabby, untidy rooms.


Well the same principle is valid when reading an essay so bear this in mind when you begin your writing.