So, what is my dissertation about you ask?

Nothing, I’m not actually writing one. This isn’t because I’ve had a crazy meltdown and forgotten that I’m in the final year of my degree or anything like that. It’s actually because it is not a compulsory part of my degree. I could have opted to write a dissertation but I chose not to. Instead I am studying 3 option modules (Human Rights, Medical Law and Criminology) alongside the compulsory module for third years, Equity and Trusts Law.

If my memory serves me well the reason that I decided not to complete a dissertation was because at the time I didn’t have a burning desire to conduct research into any area in particular and was pretty keen to learn about and study as many different areas of law as I could. I do think there are benefits to writing a dissertation and having to put together a piece of work consisting of roughly 15,000 English (and no doubt the odd latin) words. The process will see you refine your research and analytical skills as well as forcing you to hone your inner organisation guru. Having lived with students who were studying a variety of other topics that were required to write a dissertation, I can tell you that they did not all emerge upon completion of their projects as quite the same people they had been when they embarked upon their quest. Despite being quite pleased to see the back of it, I know that they felt that it had been a worthwhile experience.

It’s definitely an option worth considering when you come around to choosing your module options for final year.

Let me know in the comments below whether you’ve chosen to write a dissertation, the topic you’ve chosen or share your experience of writing a dissertation for your law degree.