This module aims to prepare the candidates (students) in the JSD programme for their doctorate dissertation. It will provide a critical introduction to legal reasoning, research methodologies and legal writing skills from both theoretical and practical perspectives. The training process covers an understanding of the nature of studying law and legal reasoning, the distinctive nature of legal research, identifying legal questions, research design, defining research originality, the variety of research methodologies, searching for research resources and materials, legal referencing and citation skills, plagiarism and academic integrity, and the use of technology in legal research. In this process, students will acquire critical thinking ability and learn to distinguish between analytical methodologies and research methodologies.

Students are expected to actively participate in class discussions. In most of the seminars, students will be given handouts, including sample writings, to discuss, analyse and criticize. Final assessment will take the form of presenting a writing, usually a chapter of the candidates' thesis, in a workshop in which all the theses will be presented and questioned by a group of established legal scholars and experts.