The law dissertation (or extended essay) is typically the largest single piece of work you will produce during your degree. It requires independent research, original analysis, and sustained argumentation over 10,000–15,000 words.
1. Choosing Your Topic
The most common mistake is choosing a topic that is too broad. Your research question should be:
- Specific: "Should English law recognise a general duty of good faith in commercial contracts?" is better than "Good faith in contract law"
- Arguable: There should be genuine debate — if the answer is obvious, it is not a good research question
- Feasible: Can you access the sources you need? Is there enough literature to engage with?
- Interesting to you: You will spend months on this — choose something you genuinely care about
2. Literature Review
Your literature review should:
- Map the existing debate: Who are the key scholars? What positions do they take?
- Identify gaps: What has not been adequately addressed? This is where your contribution lies
- Be critical, not descriptive: Do not just summarise — evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of existing arguments
3. Structure
| Chapter | Content | Approximate Length |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Research question, methodology, scope, structure | 1,500–2,000 words |
| Literature Review | Existing scholarship and debate | 2,500–3,000 words |
| Analysis Chapters (2–3) | Your original argument, supported by evidence | 5,000–7,000 words total |
| Conclusion | Summary of findings, implications, limitations | 1,000–1,500 words |
4. Research Methodology
Most law dissertations use doctrinal analysis (examining cases, statutes, and academic commentary). However, you might also use:
- Comparative analysis: Comparing English law with another jurisdiction
- Theoretical analysis: Applying a theoretical framework (e.g., law and economics, feminist legal theory)
- Empirical research: Interviews or surveys (requires ethics approval)
5. Timeline
Start early. A realistic timeline for a final-year dissertation:
- Months 1–2: Topic selection, initial reading, research question refinement
- Months 3–4: Intensive research and literature review
- Months 5–6: Writing analysis chapters
- Month 7: Writing introduction and conclusion, editing, proofreading