Type of course

Course content

The course covers the generally accepted starting points and principles for formulating legal texts. One of the questions that will be covered in this context is who is the recipient of a thesis.

The course will also cover questions of presentation in relation to the written work of the individual student.

Guidance on how researchers can communicate their research, including via the media, will also be provided in the course.

Objectives of the course

By participating in the course students will acquire knowledge about the requirements that apply to the formal formulation of written legal texts. These requirements concern in part the relationship between the use of headings, body text, indentation and footnotes. The students will also be trained in formulating legal tests that satisfy the review and readability requirements when building legal arguments. The students shall also learn to complete a legal research project in the form of an article suitable for publication.

Furthermore, the students shall become more aware of how the practical aspects of the writing process should be structured. This includes the relationship between structure and writing, as well as the relationship between writing for yourself and writing for a reader.

The students will be better equipped to communicate legal knowledge to society using media and other communication channels.

Language of instruction and examination

Teaching methods

The teaching consists of a combination of lectures and discussions in a seminar format, in addition to a writing course, project presentations, midterm evaluation and production of an article.

The PhD students are also encouraged to participate in disputations and trial lectures at the faculty or other educational institutes.

Assessment

The course has no formal examination. This must be viewed in the context of the students, after having completed all courses in the programme, submitting one or more pieces of work that will be assessed for a PhD degree in legal science by an assessment committee appointed by the faculty.

Attendance is compulsory and the teaching in the subject consists of:

A one-day seminar on scientific communication

Two writing courses (minimum of four hours per course) one of which must be connected to the legal article the student must write

At least three project presentations and one to two presentations of their own projects (minimum three hours per presentation)

Midway evaluation

Writing a 15-20 page legal article that must, in form and content, be finished and suitable for publication in a legal journal.

The students are expected to have familiarised themselves with any materials handed out in advance of the tuition, and to participate actively in discussions.