The final year of your LLB programme presents a tremendous opportunity, and what might be the magnum opus of your time at university – your dissertation. This isn't merely an academic requirement (although some universities offer alternatives), but a chance to delve deeply into a topic that fascinates you. Writing a dissertation on a cutting-edge topic or a veritable legal ‘no man’s land’ requires carefully considered planning, research and writing. This blog explores my advice on excelling in these areas, ensuring your dissertation is both a personal and academic triumph.

Selecting a dissertation topic is the first critical step. It’s essential to find a balance between your interests and the scope of academic research. For me, that was the murky waters of AI and intellectual property (IP) – which I narrowed down to generative AI and its effects on copyright authorship, an obviously dense topic I did my best to summarise here. Topics at the intersection of traditional legal issues and new disruptive technologies, like AI's impact on copyright law, can offer fertile ground for exploration and contribution to legal scholarship.

Developing a research strategy

Research is the cornerstone of any dissertation. Begin with a broad sweep to understand the landscape before narrowing your focus to the most relevant studies, cases and legal frameworks. Utilise a variety of sources, from academic journals to legal databases, to ensure that you cover both seminal works and the latest research. I’d also advise you to do the following:

• Start early. Give yourself ample time to explore your topic thoroughly. I think it helps to initially select around five ‘core’ texts relevant to your topic and build from there as you go.
• Organise your findings. Use digital tools or a research diary to keep track of sources, notes and ideas. I’d strongly recommend using a reference management software –  these can be a huge boon to keeping track of sources and ensuring you’re citing them correctly. Free options like Zotero can be incredibly helpful in organising your sources and later citing them in your chosen word processor. Using some sort of cloud storage, both for your sources and your writing, also streamlines the process. Additionally, I cannot stress enough the importance of keeping backups (plural!) of your work.
• Engage with sources critically. Assess the credibility, relevance and bias of your sources. Your marks will come from your ability to critically evaluate the law and your chosen sources. You’re not necessarily expected to “solve” the issue or come up with some miraculous novel idea, but you should be able to engage with your chosen issue and show your understanding.
• Write (almost) everything down. Whether you prefer to handwrite or track your thoughts digitally, make a note of just about every 'good' thought you have about your topic. Moments of inspiration might come to you in the middle of the day or wake you in the night – don’t let good ideas slip away from you. 

Structuring your dissertation

A clear, logical structure is vital to guide your reader through your argument. Typically, an LLB dissertation that’s identifying some legal issue, perhaps a hole in the legislature, might follow this framework:

• Introduction: outline your question or identified issue in the law, detail your intentions and give a brief context.
• Current law: assume your reader knows little about the topic. Provide some context to the current state of your chosen legal issue and key relevant concepts. 
• Identify the issue: explain what you think is lacking or going wrong in the relevant area of law, why it is a problem and what might be causing it. 
• Findings and discussion: analyse the issue, consider relevant legal texts, consider and contrast your various sources to support your point.
• Conclusion: summarise your main findings, their implications for the issue or theory and present your final argument, suggestions or areas for future review.

Managing time and scheduling

Time management may just make or break your dissertation. Divide your writing into manageable sections with deadlines and stick to these as best you can. Consider using a Gantt chart or similar project management tool to visualise your schedule. Regularly review your progress and adjust your plan as needed, allowing yourself some flexibility for unexpected challenges or insights.

With this in mind, here are some tips for effective time management:

• Set realistic goals. Determine what you can achieve daily, weekly and monthly. You might like to plan your word count out and set particular goals relating to this – but bear in mind that sometimes you’ll write in sudden bursts and at times you might have periods of slower writing or where you need to revise some of your work. 
• Remember that “perfection is the enemy of progress”. Focus on what will have the most significant impact on your progress and do not get lost in the weeds too early on. Consider the ‘Pareto Principle’, which observes that “80% of outcomes come from 20% of your input”s and suggests that you should focus on the big stuff and worry about the minutiae later.
• Remember not to rush. Rushing will not help and might just leave you feeling burnt out. Regular breaks can enhance your productivity and you need time to think critically about what you’re writing. Start early and give yourself ample time to produce your best work.

Writing your dissertation

The writing stage transforms your research from rough notes into a coherent scholarly argument. Begin with an outline and write section by section, ensuring each part contributes to your overall thesis. Here are some tips to enhance your writing process:

• Write regularly: bearing in mind what I said above, the habit of writing can keep your project moving forward. Even if it’s just a few hundred words a day, this can give you a certain momentum to keep going.
• Seek feedback: regular consultations with your supervisor can provide invaluable guidance and motivation. It can be very helpful to have another set of eyes to review your work. Ask friends, family or other students for proofreading and feedback – although be sure to understand your university’s plagiarism policy! 
• Check and review: if you have kept to your deadlines and schedules well, you should hopefully have abundant time to evaluate your dissertation before you submit it. Check your conclusion logically follows from your premises; your formatting is correct, and the written order of your work makes sense; and your citations/bibliography are accurate, and in the required form (once again, I strongly recommend familiarising yourself with reference management software). 
• Edit and revise: writing is rewriting. Expect to revise drafts multiple times, refining your argument and clarifying your points. 

Writing your dissertation is a marathon, not a sprint. This is a process that tests not only your legal knowledge and research skills, but also your resilience, planning and time management. By choosing a topic that truly interests you, the dissertation can be an intellectually rewarding journey. Remember, the skills you develop during this time aren’t just for achieving your degree but are transferable to your future career in law. Embrace the challenge and you may find yourself contributing valuable insights to the legal field.