This short course introduces you to ‘big picture’ notions around the higher level research and writing skills involved in your postgraduate law studies. You can only develop these skills over time through the process of your own study on the specific courses that you have selected. Nevertheless, these introductory sessions can highlight the available resources which will support you through your process of learning.
1. Legal research is a process.
Legal research involves far more than finding relevant materials. The process starts with initial analysis and involves broad investigation. You must be able to identify, refine and evaluate legal sources. You must also be very mindful of research ethics including citation and referencing.
2. Your writing will expand the existing body of legal scholarship.
The demands of writing at this high level will extend your already well-developed writing skills. You must be able to capture, organise and present complex legal information and you must be able to distil and present your ideas clearly. Your writing must be well-structured, authoritative and compelling. You are adding to legal scholarship, ‘joining the conversation’ in your professional areas of interest and, as a result, you must adjust your stance to writing and be prepared to expand your existing writing skills.
3. Your research and writing will be informed by numerous sources.
In this short, introductory workshop, you will see the many resources available to you through the University of Auckland Libraries and Learning Services and the Auckland Law School. You are advised to register for the available research and writing seminars offered each week at https://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/study-skills/postgraduate
The course introduces you to key legal resources available through the Davis Law Library, part of Libraries and Learning Services at the University of Auckland.
Immediately after the Postgraduate Introduction and Welcome session, our Davis Law Library staff will walk you through the available postgraduate learning resources and services available through the Faculty of Law and through the wider University’s Libraries and Learning Services.
We suggest that on the afternoon of the Orientation and Welcome session you take the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the physical facilities at the Davis Law Library and/or log on to Canvas to work through the self-paced, autonomous modules. On our Auckland Law School ‘Canvas’ learning platform you can find learning material about New Zealand legal resources and multi-jurisdictional legal research for Australia and the United Kingdom.
Building from this starting point and by using other online training options provided through the various commercial legal research databases to which we subscribe, you will incrementally develop your research skills throughout your studies and in parallel with attending classes in your substantive law courses.