LAW526
Independent Research Paper
(Any full-time professor in the Faculty of Law)
Prerequisite courses: Depends on the professor
Prerequisite for: None
Instructor(s): At the agreement of any full-time professor in the Faculty of Law
Course credit: 3
Teamwork:
METHOD OF EVALUATION
The primary method of evaluation is a research paper of 8,000 to 10,000 words in length. This length is stipulated in the University Calendar.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
LAW 526 provides selected students with the opportunity to undertake an independent research project on an approved topic under the direct supervision of a full-time member of the Faculty of Law, resulting in the submission of a research paper of 8,000 to 10,000 words in length (inclusive of footnotes or endnotes). In addition to advanced knowledge, the independent research paper course is designed to enhance problem solving skills, knowledge of legal research methodologies and techniques, and legal writing and communication skills. Work submitted for academic credit in another course cannot be used in an independent research project.
Interested students are encouraged to review the profiles of faculty members via the Faculty’s website to learn more about their areas of interest and expertise. Contact faculty members directly to discuss the possibility of supervising an independent research paper. Sessional instructors are not eligible to serve as supervisors.
The topic for the paper must be approved by the supervising professor. Ideas for paper topics can be generated from a course taken, or from your work with a law firm, government, or non-profit organization. Some students have used their LAW 526 independent research papers to develop a writing sample to accompany a job application or graduate school application. Others have used the LAW 526 course as an opportunity to refresh their legal research skills in third year before entering practice, in essence, treating LAW 526 as an advanced LRW course. The LAW 526 course can also be used as an opportunity to write a legal research paper to submit to an essay writing competition, such as the Holocaust Remembrance Essay Award hosted by the Faculty of Law, the William Morrow essay competition hosted by the Alberta Law Review, and the various essay competitions hosted by the Canadian Bar Association. For those with the desire to add a publication to their résumés, there are several law journals in Canada aimed at publishing student-authored work.
SPECIAL COMMENTS
Registration for this course requires the submission of a form signed by a professor willing to supervise. See the Forms Cabinet at https://www.ualberta.ca/en/law/campus-life/academic-resources/index.html
Find more instructions for registering for LAW526 in the main text of the Academic Resources page.