Capstone Project

Awards

Contact Hours and Module Coordinator

ECTS:
20

Semester:
Year long

Contact Hours and Student Workload:
14 hours workshops Self-study and preparation for formative and summative assignments, including group work – approximately 186 hours  

Module Coordinator:
Professor Caoimhin Mac Maolain

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module, students should be able to:

• Effectively demonstrate specialised, self-directed knowledge of an area of law through examination of a ‘real-life’ legal research problem or a theme within a research group.
• Collaborate with peers and act in leadership roles
• Constructively evaluate and the work of others
• Synthesise and evaluate a variety of legal research methods, legal sources, findings and analysis
• Critically analyse of an area of law through independent research
• Consult with and respond to the needs of research users
• Effectively communicate research findings.

Rationale and Aims

This Capstone/research project module is designed to allow students to develop research, teamwork and communication skills, and to engage in meta-learning (learning about learning). It seeks to provide students with an opportunity to engage in self-directed, independent research with the support of an academic leader and peers. It will facilitate students to engage in a critical and in- depth analysis of a legal issue, and to communicate their findings to specialist and non- specialist audiences. Students will also be supported to work with their peers and to take responsibility for various tasks within a group setting. A core rationale of the module is to facilitate students in the development of skills of life-long learning, to apply research skills to various contexts and to reflect on their learning, both individually and as a group. Through engaging in an in-depth piece of research, working collaboratively, taking responsibility for tasks, communicating effectively and responding to the needs of research-users, students will be facilitated to develop the graduate attributes promoted throughout the School’s programmes. 

Module Content

The module involves two strands. Within each strand, a number of projects will be conducted.

The first strand is animated by community-based learning approaches. In this strand, students will work as a group with an academic leader (faculty member). Each group will collectively prepare a research project in response to a request from a community organisation. 

The second strand is animated by the concept of thematic learning. Each group will be organised around a broad research theme, with each student preparing a research project on a particular topic within that theme under the supervision of an academic leader (faculty member). 

The topics for research will vary from year to year, but the skills employed will be similar. Students in both strands will complete research methods workshops at the beginning of the module. The Capstone coordinator will work with the academic leaders to select suitable topics which will allow students to work on an individual piece of research which fits within a theme common to the strand. This process of discussion and selection will happen during the timetabled workshops period. All supervision will be conducted during the timetabled workshops. 

Each student will work with the academic leader to select a topic which is both suitable for a dissertation and which aligns with the common theme. 

Students will work on their dissertation individually, but will meet with other students and the academic leader and postgraduate students in a group setting for a series of workshops. These workshops will provide an opportunity for students to discuss their progress, explore emerging themes in their work, examine the structure of their work, present their research, engage in reflection on their learning, and offer and receive feedback from the academic leader, postgraduate students, as well as their peers. Students will also use time in the workshops to prepare a group presentation on the research they have conducted. 

Each group will sign a ‘group contract’, which will agree timelines, division of responsibilities, methods of communication and contain provision for challenges which may arise. 

Students will also keep a reflective learning journal and be supported in reflective writing. 

Role of postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers 

It is envisaged that, where possible, postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers working on themes relevant to the strands will participate in the workshops. This may include: delivering elements of the research skills workshops; providing feedback on students’ written work and presentations; and attending workshops. 

Class Size

Groups will comprise no more than ten students. The number and nature of research themes available each year will depend on available staff resources.

Indicative Resources 

Cahillane and Schweppe, ed., Legal Research Methods (Clarus, 2016) 

Assessment

• Individual Project 80%
• Group Presentation 20%
• Reflective Journal Pass/Fail
• Participation Pass/Fail

Students will be assigned an individual mark for their dissertation. This will be worth 80% of the overall mark. Students will be assigned a group mark for the group presentation on the common themes emerging from the research conducted within the group. This will be worth 20% of the overall mark. Students will be assessed on a pass/fail basis for their reflective learning journal and ongoing participation. Reflection will be by means of submitting 300 words after every class through Blackboard. The participation mark will be calculated commensurate to any unexcused absences from classes. The reflection mark will be calculated commensurate to any unexcused missed My journal entries. The word limit for the dissertation will be 12,000 words for all strands except for both Evidence and Public Law for which the word limit is 7,000. The academic leader will assess students’ work.

Capstone 2025-26 Available Cohorts

Single Honors and Law Major students MUST take their Capstone from Law. 

Joint Honors may choose Law or S2 for their Capstone. 

 Capstones are generally capped at 10. 

* Only available if students were abroad in MT or FY in 2024-25 and did not complete Administrative Law. 

** Only available if students were abroad in MT or FY in 2024-25 and did not complete Evidence. 

Capstone Modules Descriptions

Capstone Outlines 2025-26