Professional Practice Research Report Student Assessment Information 2024-25 | UoL

Student Assessment Information

Professional Practice Research Report: Student Instructions

1. What is the Professional Practice Research Report (PPRR)?

The PPRR is a self-study module to be completed by students seeking the LPC LLM award. The PPRR allows you to demonstrate your ability to carry out an in-depth investigation into a topic linked to one of the core practice areas or elective subjects and to present your findings in the PPRR assessment. The assessment will consist of a written report of no more than 3,000 words, which should demonstrate a critical awareness of developments and current issues in the topic under discussion. The report should be written in clear and concise language and should aim to demonstrate critical evaluation, analysis and reflection rather than being merely descriptive of the topic covered. In particular, you will need to demonstrate your ability to carry out effective and relevant independent research as part of your assessment (for more on learning outcomes, see Q16). You will also be required to submit a Reflective Statement of no more than 500 words (for more on this, see Q14).

As an independent, self-study project at the postgraduate level, your work is not supervised by a tutor. This is different from a supervised dissertation (that you may have undertaken at undergraduate level). One of the outcomes of the Master’s is to “Demonstrate the ability to self-manage a research-type project from design to delivery”, and to satisfy this, you need to work autonomously.

Your report will be supported by a 20-minute oral assessment. You will give a 10-minute oral presentation, which will be followed by questions by the examiner on your presentation and/or the report (for more on this, see Q18).

2. How do I select my PPRR title?

There are 12 different titles for you to choose from.

The titles will be emailed to you with these instructions. You will also be able to access the titles via ELITE.

The online portal inviting you to make your choice will open on 11 November 2024.

You need to select your PPRR title and notify the University of your choice by no later than 16:00 on 10 February 2025.
 
Please note that it is not possible to change your title choice once you have selected it. If you later submit a PPRR for a different title other than the one you selected, it is unlikely that your campus will be able to arrange for a marker or schedule a new oral assessment, and you would therefore have to wait until the next sitting to resubmit your work. This would mean you would be unable to attend graduation with your peers.

Please also note that if you do not notify the University of your choice by the deadline above, a title will be assigned to you by the Assessment Office, and you will not be able to change this.

3. How do I inform the University of my title choice?

You will be asked to complete a choice form via ELITE by the dates in section 2 above.

You can locate the form on Elite via the Institution Page as follows: Institution > Programme Choice Forms > Professional Practice Report/Case Study (LPC)

4. In what form will I be required to submit my PPRR?

You will be required to submit your PPRR electronically via Turnitin by the deadlines specified below.

5. What is the deadline for submission of the PPRR?

The submission deadline is 12:00 on 23 June 2025.

6. What is the submission procedure? noon

Detailed instructions on the exact procedure for electronic submission will be issued closer to the submission date.

7. Can I submit my assessment early?

Within reason, yes. Turnitin will open seven days before the deadline, and you can submit at any time during those seven days.

Please do not leave submission until the very last minute in case something goes wrong, e.g. IT problems, etc.

8. When should I write my PPRR?

Access to all the titles is now available, and you must confirm your title choice by no later than the date shown at Q2 above. It is up to you to use your time appropriately for the writing of your PPRR, but we would anticipate that most students would make their choice and start working on their PPRR as soon as possible. Please also note our advice below.

9. How should I approach writing my PPRR?

How you approach the assessment is very much up to you, and how you like to work. For example, some people like to feel that they have completed most (or all) of their research before embarking on their writing; others may prefer to start on a very rough first draft after doing a fairly small amount of research, and see where the act of writing this first draft takes them (there are, of course, many other different ways of approaching a longer piece of written work such as the PPRR assessment).

Broadly speaking, no one way of working is the “right” way; for example, both methods described above can work very successfully for different types of learners. However, the following pieces of general advice may be useful:

• It is normally a good idea to plan your work, particularly as you will need to ensure a clear, concise and professional presentation of your research and analysis.
• Be prepared to be flexible. For example, you may need to do more research as a result of the writing process (you may get new ideas or think of something you need to go into that your research has not covered so far). Sticking too rigidly to a plan can be a mistake; do constantly review your work and adjust it as required to ensure you meet the learning outcomes.
• Our experience so far shows that it is not normally a good idea to leave research or writing to the last minute. We do appreciate that you have many other commitments, and that at times other things will need to take priority. However, if at all possible, we recommend that you try to pace yourself and work throughout the period, rather than leaving things to the end.
• As an additional resource, there is a recording on ELITE to watch, giving you further guidance. This may be found in

Courses/LPC Student    Handbook    & Course Information/Lecture Recordings/PPPR Presentation

10. What about research?

10.1. Ethical research

It is neither expected nor desired that you conduct any research using human participants. Conducting research using human participants gives rise to ethical issues. At its simplest level, asking the opinion of a single practitioner whom you know socially would come under this heading, as would surveying with members of the public. Conducting such research without complying with the University’s Practice Statement: Ethical Research (which requires approval of the Ethics Sub-committee) constitutes academic misconduct. The Practice Statement: Ethical Research is available via the home page of the Library Services Portal.

Given the time scales involved in the PPRR Assessment, it is generally not practicable to obtain consent from the Ethics Sub-committee and therefore, research involving human participants should be avoided.

10.2. Legal research guidance and resources

You will have already come across provisions relating to Legal Research on your course and will have access to both paper and electronic-based research tools throughout your work on the PPRR.

It is suggested that you look back over your study notes on how to conduct legal research and make full use of the hard copy and online assistance provided at that time. There is also guidance on the Library Services Portal, in the Skills section of the library. The professional legal databases provide online help and guidance on the use of their resources.

If you have a technical question about how to use a particular electronic or paper-based research tool that is not already answered by the guides referred to above, you are permitted to ask library staff for guidance.

For the avoidance of doubt, the library staff will not answer any questions that relate directly to your assessment, the appropriateness of your research strategy or the accuracy of your research. The library staff will be the judge of how much guidance they can give you.

11. How many resources should I be using in my research and referencing

There is no fixed or target number of resources that you should be using to achieve any particular mark. Use your discretion to judge what level of research from a range of appropriate resources will allow you to demonstrate the Learning Outcomes set out in FAQ 16 and the relevant Assessment Criteria and Grade Descriptors that are set out in Appendix 3 below, whilst responding to your chosen title and the list of issues or sub-questions within it.

12. How should I present my PPRR assessment?

Please see Appendix 1, which contains guidelines on how to format and present your work.

13. Am I required to use standard academic referencing or explain what precedents or other sources I have used?

As this is a research-based task, you should use footnotes to enable the marker to check the authority for your propositions. Each reference should be given a number which will appear in the body of the text, either in parentheses on the line (1) or as a superscript1.
 
Most modern word-processing packages allow footnotes to be inserted automatically, with an option to place them at the end of the document or at the bottom of the relevant page.

Use OSCOLA (the Oxford University Standard for Citation of Legal Authorities) for citing/referencing all material used in your report. Full details and online tutorials on referencing using OSCOLA. Please note that your references must be expressed sufficiently clearly that any reader of the work could check them easily.

Footnotes should not be included in the word count.

14. How should I write my Reflective Statement?

The purpose of a reflective statement is to allow you to constructively evaluate the piece of work you have undertaken. This is for your benefit, but also assists with employability. Law firms are increasingly placing importance on self-reflection owing to its important role in the self-certification of continuing professional development. Your statement should not be limited to describing the work, but should also provide an honest analysis and evaluation of how you felt about the process and, with the benefit of hindsight, highlight what you would do differently and why. You should write this Reflective Statement in the first person (using “I”) rather than a third-person narrative.
In order to assist you with your Reflective Statement, you may want to keep a rolling reflective journal as a form of regular reflection so you can monitor your thought processes.
For example, an entry could include your thoughts about an article you have read. What did you learn? What did the article address positively? What could have been dealt with better in the article, and how? How does the article link with practice?

15. Is there a Word Limit?

The word limit for the PPRR is 3,000 words, and the word limit for the Reflective Statement is 500 words (in addition). The penalty for exceeding the word limit is that the excess words will not be marked. There is no minimum word limit, but it is unlikely that an assessment that had significantly fewer than 3,000 words would demonstrate the learning outcomes.

NOTE: The following rules for counting words will be applied:
 
All words count in the total 

Except

• Headers and footers do not count
• A bibliography and footnotes do not count, but please note below*
• Words used in setting out the title at the start of your PPRR do not count
• Words and numerical figures in tables, graphs, diagrams or diagrammatic figures do not count, but please note below*
• The declaration at the end of your work does not count
• Where used, a cover sheet and contents page do not count.

* Footnotes should be used for citation purposes only. Tables may be used to set out financial data, and tables, graphs, diagrams, and figures may be used to illustrate diagrammatically the points being discussed. However, the rules for the word limit may NOT be circumvented by putting substantive parts of your answer in the form of footnotes, tables, graphs, diagrams or figures. If you do so, the written content of the footnote, table, graph, diagram or figure in question will not be marked.

You must do a word count on your assessment, and state at the end of the electronic copy the number of words that you have used. Words are counted to check the accuracy of your statement. A candidate who makes a false statement as to the number of words in an assessment may commit an ‘Academic Misconduct Offence’ under the University’s Student Discipline Regulations and could be subject to disciplinary action.

16. What Learning Outcomes is the assessment designed to assess?

Your assessment must achieve the following module learning outcomes. As a reminder, a learning outcome is something which you will be able to do, and to demonstrate that you can do at the end of a particular piece of work; in this case, once you have completed the PPRR assessment.

Knowledge and Understanding

• Demonstrate a systematic understanding and critical awareness of current issues or developments at the forefront of the chosen area of legal practice.
• Identify the complex legal issues involved in the chosen area of legal practice, including relevant commercial and tactical factors.

Cognitive Skills

• Critically evaluate current research, commentary and practitioner analysis of the various elements forming the subject matter of the report.
• Reflect critically upon legal principles and practical context in the chosen area of legal practice.
• Display originality in application of knowledge based upon research and enquiry undertaken.

Practice Skills

• Demonstrate the ability to conduct and critically evaluate legal research in primary or practitioner sources.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate both orally and in writing using a clear, concise and logical structure and with appropriate professional style.
• Demonstrate the ability to self-manage a research-type project from design to delivery.

NOTE:

Since your PPRR is something you write in your own time (as opposed to under the pressure of an examination) we expect a high level of performance in the written communication and presentation skills. You should make sure that you use language proficiently and present knowledge, opinion or advice in a way that is succinct, accurate, grammatically correct, comprehensible and appropriate for the context.

You should also make sure that your work is ‘office quality’, i.e. well presented, with no spelling mistakes or formatting errors.

17. How will my PPRR Assessment be marked?

Your report will be marked out of 70. It will be marked and graded using the LPC Assessment Criteria (see Appendix 3) and looking at your level of proficiency in the module Learning Outcomes of Knowledge and Understanding, Cognitive Skills and Practice Skills (see Q16). Note that your Reflective Statement will not carry any of those 70 marks. However, there will be an automatic deduction of 10 marks if you do not include a Reflective Statement. Further, you may well be asked about it in your oral assessment. The remaining 30 marks are for the oral assessment.

18. Tell me about the oral assessment. What is the deadline for preparing my slides?

Your slides need to be submitted to Turnitin by the same deadline as your PPRR i.e. noon on 23 June 2025.
 
Please ensure that any colour scheme or illustrations you use enable the content to be viewed in that format, for example, that there is sufficient contrast between the background and text for the text to be readable.

19. How should I structure my presentation?

The overall structure is up to you, but remember that one of the assessment criteria is having a logical structure, with a beginning, a middle and an end. We would therefore recommend that the first slide should be the title (or a summary of the title) of the Report, and the last slide should be a summary of the conclusion.

20. Are there any formatting requirements for my slides?

Remember that 10 is the maximum number of slides you are permitted to use, but you may use fewer.

Whilst there are no formatting requirements for your slides, you should not put too much information on each slide. Because of this, we recommend that you limit yourself to 50 words per slide, including titles.

Please note that you will do your presentation using a hard copy of your slides, not by presenting your slides on screen. Therefore, do not include any animations or sound effects in your slides as these will not be taken into account by your assessor.

Likewise, notes pages are not required and will not be taken into account by your assessor.

21. How do I know when and where my Oral Assessment will be?

Your oral assessment will take place online using Collaborate; however, if you are a student on a Student Route Visa, it is a requirement that your oral assessment takes place on campus. Your oral assessment will take place at a time between Monday, 30 June and Friday, 18 July 2025.

You will be emailed by the Assessment Office once the date, time and venue have been timetabled. Remember to look out for this email.

Please note that no appointments for the oral assessment can be timetabled until all students from all cohorts have submitted their title choices.

22. What are the permitted materials for the oral assessment?

The permitted materials for the oral assessment are a paper copy of each of your Report and your slides. These can be annotated or tagged in whatever way you choose. You will not hand them in at the end of the assessment. There is no need to provide an additional copy of either for the assessor.
 
Although you can annotate your Professional Practice Research Report and the hard copy of the slides however you choose, do bear in mind that too many notes may hinder the delivery of your presentation.

23. What is the format of the oral?

The oral will last for 20 minutes, comprising your 10-minute presentation and a 10-minute question and answer session where you will be asked and answer questions put to you by the assessor.

You will attend the Collaborate session or an on-campus appointment if you are a Visa student, at the scheduled time. If you arrive up to 5 minutes late for the assessment, you will be allowed to sit the assessment, but the time missed cannot be allowed at the end. If you arrive more than 5 minutes late, it is unlikely the assessor will be able to conduct your assessment. In such a situation, you will be regarded as absent and will fail the PPRR unless you make a successful concession/mitigating circumstances application the reason for your absence

You will give your presentation seated, not standing.

You will spend up to 10 minutes giving a presentation of the key points of your written Report, using your slides. This presentation should be a summary of the highlights of your report. The assessor will have a copy of your slides, which they will look at during the presentation, so you will not put these on screen. Bear in mind that your assessor will already have read your Report; it is not appropriate to read out the Report to the assessor as this will not demonstrate the necessary practitioner skills. After 8 minutes of making your presentation, your assessor will give you a time warning, and after 10 minutes, you must end your presentation.

When you have finished your presentation, the assessor will ask you several questions about the Report and/or your presentation to probe your knowledge and clarify any ambiguities.

24. Is there a dress code?

We recommend that you dress professionally, as that tends to enhance student performance. However, there are no marks deducted or awarded for clothing, so if you decide to dress casually, you will not be penalised.

25. How will my oral presentation be marked?

The oral presentation carries 30 marks. Please refer to Appendix 4 for guidance on the assessment criteria for the oral presentation.
When assessing your presentation, markers will have regard to the extent to which it is clear, structured, demonstrates knowledge and understanding relevant to the task, and is engaging and persuasive, including when responding to questions. Your slides should support your presentation.

As a formal assessment, both the written and oral elements of the PPRR Assessment are subject to standard academic procedures of internal and external moderation.

26. What are Academic Misconduct / Assessment Related Offences?

In the context of a coursework assessment, Academic Misconduct Offences are any form of cheating. Cheating in an assessment is a serious offence that could result in your failing that assessment. The sanctions for Academic Misconduct Offences are set out in the Student Discipline Regulations and include the reporting of any Academic Misconduct Offence to the Solicitors Regulation Authority. The Student Discipline Regulations are available on ELITE in your Student Handbook and Course Information Course in the “University General Information” section.

Cheating by collusion

You must be particularly careful not to cheat by colluding with others when you are working on a submitted assessment like the PPRR Assessment. You may well have been collaborating with other students in preparation for, and during, lectures and workshops on the LPC. That is entirely acceptable and part of what we expect you to do when studying on the course. Once you start work on the PPRR Assessment, however, you must work alone – what you submit must be your unaided work, and you must not collude with any other student, or you will be guilty of cheating. Put simply, your work must be “unaided” and this includes not asking a friend or relative to, for example, proofread your work.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as your own. Plagiarism is an Assessment Related Offence. You are WARNED that the University uses plagiarism detection software.

Conducting Research Using Human Participants

As noted at 10.1 above, conducting research using human participants gives rise to ethical issues, and therefore conducting such research without complying with the University’s Practice Statement: Ethical Research and obtaining approval of the Ethics Sub-committee constitutes academic misconduct.

27. What happens if I do not submit my assessment or do not submit it on time?

The PPRR Assessment is part of the formal assessment system on the LPC programme. Under Assessment Regulation 14 if you fail to submit your
assessment, or if you submit it late, you will be deemed to have failed. This applies even if you are late by a few minutes only.

Under Regulation 15 it is possible to make a Concession / Mitigating Circumstances Application (supported by appropriate evidence) within 7 days of the submission date. If the Board of Examiners is satisfied that your non- submission or late submission was due to illness or other valid cause they may allow an additional 1st attempt at the coursework or accept a late submission. If you wish to make a Concession / Mitigating Circumstances Application you should contact the Assessment Office.

28. What happens if I submit the PPRR but am absent from the oral assessment?

Under Assessment Regulation 14(d) you will be deemed absent from the whole assessment if you are absent from part of it. Should you be absent from the oral due to illness or other good reason, you should submit a concession / mitigating circumstances application within 7 days of the timetabled date of your oral assessment. If this is accepted by the Board of Examiners, you will be able to sit later as an additional first attempt, so would be able to update your PPRR (if necessary) and resubmit it at a later submission date when you would also have your oral assessment.

29. What happens if I fail the assessment?

If you fail at 1st attempt, you are entitled to two further attempts. For your 2nd attempt, you will be required to resubmit the same piece of work that you have not passed as long as you resubmit within 12 months of your 1st attempt. For a 2nd attempt more than 12 months after your 1st attempt and all 3rd attempts, students will be required to attempt a new title. In both cases, you will also attend an oral assessment.

30. If I fail, or am absent, do I have to resit?

Until you sit and pass the PPRR you will not complete your LLM award so you will need to resit the PPRR. See Q29 above for requirements for subsequent attempts. It is recommended that students sit an additional attempt or resit an assessment at the next available opportunity, although there is a maximum 5-year period starting with the student’s first assessment in which all assessments must be completed.

Please remember that if you have not yet passed the PPRR, provided you have passed all elements of Stages 1 and 2, you will receive your Stage 1 and 2 transcripts in the interim, and it is these that show you have satisfied the SRA’s requirements.
 
If you do not pass the PPRR within the 5 years but have passed Stages 1 and 2, you will be awarded a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice as an exit award. This will be the case if you fail the PPRR at your third attempt or decide not to resit it.

If you decide not to resit you can request an exit award before the end of the 5 years by emailing StudentInfo@law.ac.uk to confirm that you no longer intend to submit your PPRR at any stage and that you wish to be given a postgraduate diploma as an exit award.

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31. Assuming that I pass all the relevant assessments and complete the PPRR, how is my award graded?

The grade classification of the award is calculated by the current Assessment Regulations (available in the Assessments Information section of your handbook on ELITE). In summary, the grade is calculated by reference to an overall weighted average incorporating marks from the CPA modules, electives, Conduct, Law and Business (if relevant) and the PPRR (Grade Weighted Modules, carrying 180 credits in total). You must pass all the Grade Weighted Modules at the first attempt, pass all other assessments and achieve a weighted average of 70% to get a distinction. In order to get a commendation, you need a weighted average of 60% and you must pass all Grade Weighted Modules at first attempt and pass all other assessments. Please see Appendices 1 & 4 of the Assessment Regulations for full details.

32. What results can I rely upon if my training contract starts before the publication of the LLM award?

You will receive a transcript of your Stage 1 and 2 LPC results at the usual exam results publication dates. This will satisfy the SRA’s requirements for you to be able to start your training contract. In addition, we will provide all students with a letter explaining what their grade would be if they had chosen instead to take the PgDip exit award. This will assist those students who have training contracts conditional on gaining a particular grade.

33. I understand from Q30 that I will get a Postgraduate Diploma if I do not complete the LLM. How will the PgDip award be graded in that situation?

The PgDip award will be graded by the Assessment and Award Regulations. In brief, if you have completed the Law and Business module as part of your LLM, that result will be disregarded when calculating your PgDip. If you have done an additional elective, your best 3 elective marks will be used to calculate your PgDip and your lowest mark will be disregarded. The grading system is in essence, the same as for the LLM, save that there are 150 credits for the PgDip as opposed to 180. You must pass all the Grade Weighted Modules (i.e., CPAs, Conduct, and Electives) at the first attempt, pass all other assessments and achieve a weighted average of 70% to get a distinction. In order to get a commendation, you need a weighted average of 60% and you must pass all Grade Weighted Modules at first attempt and pass all other assessments. Please see Appendices 3 and 4 of the Assessment Regulations for full details.

34. I am due to hand in my PPRR next week and have almost completed it. A new case was reported today that has a major impact on my title. What should I do?

If you feel you have time to incorporate the new development, you may do so – but it is not essential. Instead, you should state in your executive summary the date on which the law was current. Please note that there is an expectation that the law will be as current as possible at the time of hand in and this provision can only be used to deal with last-minute changes to the law. It cannot be used to avoid discussion of a material development of relevance to the chosen practice area six weeks before hand-in, for example.

35. I am a sponsored Student Route international student. What is the position if I wish to change my award?

The University of Law does not ordinarily allow Sponsored Students to change their award. This is because the Home Office has issued the student’s visa to follow a particular course and be awarded a specific qualification. During the process by which they receive a CAS, we advise each student that they cannot change their award after their CAS is issued.

If you think there are exceptional circumstances as to why you should be permitted to change your award, please write to the Visa Compliance Team at visacompliance@law.ac.uk. Please note that the Visa Compliance Team may ask you to submit evidence to support your request and all decisions made by the Visa Compliance Team are final.

Appendix 1

Guidelines on presentation of the PPRR Assessment

1. General Requirements

You must ensure that your assessment is logically structured, well-written and neatly presented.

1.1. General word-processing and presentation

Please abide by the following rules when preparing your assessment:

• produce it in a word-processed format using Microsoft Word
• Use a minimum font size of 12 characters per inch; e.g. Arial 12
• Number the pages at the bottom of the page in the centre
• Enter your name (NOT your candidate number) in the top right-hand corner of each page [these assessments are not anonymous due to the oral element]
• All typing should use one-and-a-half line spacing, except for footnotes and indented quotations, which should use single-line spacing
• retain a copy of your assessment before you submit it.

1.2. Contents of the assessment

Your assessment must include the following:

• The body of your report
• a bibliography
• reflective statement
• a declaration

1.2.1. The report

1.2.1.1. Report structure

Your assessment should be written as a professional report and so should follow the generally applied format and style of a professional report (see Appendix 2 for a summary).
 
You should set out the question in full at the beginning. This is not included in the word count.

Next, set out the conclusion, usually expressed as an “Executive Summary”; this is your own opinion based upon the research and analysis of the research that you have carried out.

Then you should detail the research, critical evaluation and analysis of it which led you to that conclusion. Use headings and subheadings to clearly distinguish the various aspects of your research (see below for guidance on the format of headings).

As a professional report, it should be focused and concise rather than discursive and academic in its tone. You should avoid over-reliance on the words and quotations of others, as this can often lead to a lack of fluidity in the points that you are making. Instead, make the points in your own words but use footnotes to give credit to the work of others wherever appropriate. You may have frequently used quotes to illustrate your points and arguments in previous dissertations or undergraduate essays, but a professional report should be much more concise and direct. Similarly, it is not appropriate to discuss the viewpoints of particular scholars and pitch them against one another (e.g. Jones et al argue that … but Smith et al maintain that their alternative view is the correct one). The report should focus on the viewpoint that you have adopted and use footnotes to acknowledge supporting material.

Writing in this format should help you keep within the word limit, which is intended to reflect the fact that, in practice, it is essential to communicate research and concisely analyse complex issues.

1.2.1.2. Headings

As indicated above, the report should use headings and sub-headings, etc., as appropriate. Reports usually have numbered headings. You should use a consistent style for dividing headings from subheadings, for example:

1. Background to Legislation

1.1 Adoption of the Directive

1.1.1 Role of the European Commission
1.1.2 Role of the Council of Ministers
1.1.3 Role of the European Parliament

1.2 Implementation of the Directive in the UK

2. Regulation of Night Work
 
2.1 The Directive
2.2 The UK Regulations
2.3 Compatibility between the Directive and the Regulations

Words used in headings and sub-headings must be included in the word count.

1.2.1.3. Footnotes, references and citations

See Q 12 above

1.2.1.4. Quotations

Where a quotation will occupy more than four lines, it should be indented and typed using single-line spacing. Quotations must be included in the word count.

1.2.1.5. Tables, graphs and figures

Please note that tables, graphs and figures used as illustrations are not part of the word count. You should place any relevant tables, graphs and figures which are essential to your answer within the body of your report and not in an Appendix. However, please note the asterisked statement in Q14 above.

1.2.2. Bibliography

All works to which you refer within the text and in the footnotes must be included in the bibliography, as well as any other sources you have used in the course of the research. Please note that you may consult any research source you want, but it must be available to read in English.

OSCOLA requires bibliographies to be laid out in three parts:

• Table of cases
• Table of legislation
• Bibliography – all other secondary resources (e.g. books, journal articles, newspaper articles and so on)

Further information and online tutorials on referencing using OSCOLA.
 
1.2.3 Reflective Statement

Your Reflective Statement (of no more than 500 words) should be inserted after the Bibliography. It should be clearly headed “Reflective Statement” and be written in the first person.

Appendix 2 Suggested Report Format

TITLE: Insert question title in full

Executive Summary: A summary of your conclusion about the issues raised in the assessment question.

Report: The detailed research, critical evaluation and analysis of it which lead you to your conclusion.

Each aspect considered in your research and analysis should be covered by separate headings.

(Bibliography) 

(Reflective statement) 

(Declaration)

Date and word count

Report Style

The purpose of a professional report is to present information or specific findings rather than to present an argument or ideas, so a report is generally more descriptive in style and less discursive than an essay. It will still require evaluation on your part and for you to demonstrate critical thinking and analytical skills, but a report aims to present findings concisely. It should therefore focus on the relevant points to support the findings and, as it typically addresses a particular issue or presents a particular solution, it should include recommendations for courses of action.

A report should be quite structured. It will usually include numbered headings and subheadings and may use bullet points. It may also include the use of diagrams, tables and charts, where appropriate, to illustrate or support the points covered.

APPENDIX 3

Assessment Criteria

The University’s LPC MSc and LPC LLM are designed under the national Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (the FHEQ) and the Sector Recognised Standards published by the Office for Students. As the course is a Master’s level postgraduate course, all elements of the course with the exception of the Introduction to Professional Practice (IPP), are assessed at Level 7. IPP is assessed at Level 6.

When your tutors mark your assessments, they will look to see how well you have met the module outcomes and will apply the LPC Assessment Criteria set out below:

• Demonstration of knowledge and understanding of the relevant area;
• Analysis of complex legal, factual, business and/or management issues, as appropriate;
• Application of knowledge and understanding to the task;
• Ability to select and use appropriate information in support of the argument;
• Ability to critically evaluate information as appropriate;
• Ability to reach a sound and reasoned solution to the problem(s) raised in the task, addressing any ethical and commercial issues, as appropriate;
• Ability to communicate using a clear and logical structure and language appropriate to the task.

These Criteria are based on the FHEQ Levels referred to above, and also reflect the course and module Learning Outcomes.

When tutors mark, they have reference to Grade Descriptors, as set out below. You will see that the Grade Descriptors show you each grade level and, against that grade level, a description of the quality or type of performance that would fall within such a grade level for each of the Assessment Criteria.

When you look at the Grade Descriptors you will see that the pass mark is 50% but a good performance will aim for marks considerably higher than that. Further guidance on grades is set out on the following pages.

Grade Descriptors:,

Outcome (Derived from Programme Outcomes)	Knowledge and understanding: Critical awareness of knowledge/principles/relevant area and application of it.   (AC 1 and AC 3)	Cognitive skills: Ability to select appropriate information. Logical approach to problem solving with analysis, critical evaluation, and judgement/conceptual evaluation.   (AC 2, AC 4 and AC5)	Practical skills/Transferrable skills: communicate concepts and principles clearly, in a logical, structured and professional manner, exercising initiative, showing decision making in complex situations and independent learning ability.   (AC 6 and AC 7)	Marks
High Distinction	Exceptional understanding of and ability to analyse an extensive range of complex and current concepts, research/evidence and issues systematically and creatively. Exceptional depth of insight into the inter- relationship of different concepts, ethical considerations, professional practice skills, tactics, and case-analysis. Outstanding ability to apply such understanding to the resolution of the client’s problems, demonstrating originality of thought.	Exceptional, systematic and creative analysis of complex factual situations and application of established principles and policy in a logical manner. Exceptionally insightful critical evaluation of the subject using a wide range of sources. Outstanding ability to propose a solution or make a judgement on the merits of any assertions made. Consistently show precise, accurate and reasoned analysis, synthesis and/or evaluation; addressing issues with insight or originality.	Exemplary presentation in terms of structure and use of principles, and concepts. Highly cogent arguments supported by relevant evidence demonstrating consistent ability to make decisions and exercise initiative and independent learning. Outstanding use of language with clear, effective, and referenced presentation appropriate for intended audience.	86 – 100%
Distinction	Excellent and systematic understanding of an extensive range of appropriate and current issues, concepts, , research/evidence, and scholarship in the relevant subject area. Excellent understanding of the inter- relationship of different concepts, ethical considerations, professional practice skills, tactics, and case-analysis. Excellent ability to apply such understanding to the resolution of the client’s problems, demonstrating a degree of originality of thought.	Excellent systematic and creative analysis of complex factual situations and application of established principles and policy in a logical manner. Insightful critical evaluation of the subject using a wide range of sources. Excellent ability to propose a solution or make a judgement on the merits of any assertions made. Consistently show precise, accurate and reasoned analysis, synthesis and/or evaluation; addressing issues with insight or originality.	Excellent use of language with clear, effective, and referenced presentation appropriate for intended audience. A coherent structure as well as the ability to make decisions and demonstrate initiative and independent learning. Excellent problem-solving and communication skills that inform the solution of the assessment.	70 – 85%
Commendation	Consistent demonstration of comprehensive and systematic understanding of a considerable variety of issues, concepts, and research/evidence. Very good identification and application of the relevant principles, ethical considerations and professional practice skills to support key points and resolve problems. Evidence of soundly exercised independent judgment.	Very good ability to analyse complex factual situations and apply established principles in a logical manner. Ability to critically evaluate the subject using a wide range of sources. Ability to propose a solution or make a judgement or reasoned conclusion on the merits of any assertions made addressing any issues as appropriate.	Very good use of language with succinct, accurate and comprehensive presentation with appropriate use of referencing and a coherent structure. Sound ability to make decisions. Demonstrates independent learning.	60 – 69%

Outcome (Derived from Programme Outcomes)	Knowledge and understanding: Critical awareness of knowledge/principles/relevant area and application of it.   (AC 1 and AC 3)	Cognitive skills: Ability to select appropriate information. Logical approach to problem solving with analysis, critical evaluation, and judgement/conceptual evaluation.   (AC 2, AC 4 and AC5)	Practical skills/Transferrable skills: communicate concepts and principles clearly, in a logical, structured and professional manner, exercising initiative, showing decision making in complex situations and independent learning ability.   (AC 6 and AC 7)	Marks
Pass	Sound comprehensive and systematic understanding of all major – and some minor – issues, concepts, and research. Ability to correctly identify and, in most instances, apply the relevant principles and professional practice skills in the resolution of problems.	Some ability to analyse complex factual situations, apply established principles in a logical manner. Ability to critically evaluate the subject using a range of sources. Some ability to propose a solution or make a judgement or reasoned conclusion on the merits of any assertions made addressing any issues as appropriate. Evidence of an overall convincing argument but may have omissions, gaps or inconsistencies.	Good use of language with the main points clearly and effectively expressed with appropriate use of referencing and some coherent structure. Some ability to make decisions.	50 – 59%
Marginal fail	Evidence of a systematic understanding, which may contain some gaps, of all major – and some minor – issues, concepts, theories, and research. Only basic recall of key principles and unable to consistently order, analyse and apply relevant legal principles.	Insufficient analysis of the subject and/or factual issues and/or makes a significant error in application of established principles. Insufficient critical evaluation of the subject. Insufficient ability to propose a solution or make a judgement or reasoned conclusion on the merits of any assertions made addressing any issues as appropriate. Evidence of a consistent argument but may have significant gaps, omissions or be unconvincing.	Poor use of language with some points being unclear and answers poorly structured.	40 – 49%
Clear Fail	Inadequate knowledge of relevant principles and/or fundamental errors. Unclear or imprecise understanding of thoughts and practices at the forefront of the discipline or professional practice. Inadequate application of the relevant principles.	Some or all of: Inadequate or inaccurate analysis of principles and factual issues; application of the subject in a contradictory way; little or no critical evaluation of the subject. Inadequate ability to propose a solution or make a judgement or reasoned conclusion on the merits of any assertions made addressing any issues as appropriate.	Inadequate use of language with unstructured answers. Significant gaps in the understanding of the debates at the forefront of the discipline or professional practice.	0-39%

APPENDIX 4

Guidelines on Assessment Criteria for Oral Presentation

The key LPC assessment criterion that applies to the oral assessment for the PPRR is as follows:

Criterion 7: Ability to communicate