There’s a lawyer everywhere you look. From 2009 to 2019, the number of active lawyers in America increased by 14.5%. When you’re entering into such a competitive area, it’s hard to stand out. This makes your dissertation very important. It is the final step in your legal education. It is your opportunity to assert what you know and to draw potential employers toward you. What are some topics that you can consider? How can you write about international law and intellectual property law? Answer these questions and you can formulate a great law dissertation proposal. Here are five ideas to think about.
1. The Morality of Defending Guilty People
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Your law dissertation should be impartial. You should conceive of arguments that are grounded in fact, not emotion.
But you can discuss your values and beliefs. Morality is an essential one for lawyers and judges.
You can explore moral issues in your dissertation, as long as you have evidence to back your claims. Read the works of philosophers and legal moralists.
Then write a dissertation about why lawyers should defend guilty people. You can explore exceptions to the rule, or you can argue that all people need legal representation.
2. A Response to Black Lives Matter
A dissertation on criminal law should be timely. It should have relevance to the reader and to society more generally.
Black Lives Matter has prompted deep thinking about socioeconomic justice and racial bias in the legal system. Consider responding to it. Argue about how lawyers can affirm social justice and challenge racism.
3. Standards of Evidence in Civil Court
You are not bound to criminal topics, even if you are a criminal lawyer. The differences between criminal court and civil court are substantial.
One major difference is the standards of evidence. Consider exploring that difference in your dissertation. Ask why the civil court has the standards that it does and determine if they should change.
4. American Involvement in Human Rights Law
If you are specializing in international law, you can write your dissertation on international law. Try to attach it to the United States since that is where you are practicing.
America’s involvement in human rights law is complicated. The United States is a signatory to the International Criminal Court, but it has not ratified its agreement with the Court.
Consider the reasons why. Write about how the International Criminal Court should play a role in human rights. Get dissertation help from lawyers with the United Nations and other bodies.
5. How to Strengthen Intellectual Property Protections
Intellectual property can be confusing. The estate of an artist can assert copyright protections for decades after the artist has died. Yet many Indigenous communities do not have protections for their cultural materials.
Write an article investigating why this is the case. Evaluate strategies that copyright lawyers can take to protect Indigenous intellectual property.
Five Ideas for Your Dissertation
You can explore a lot of topics in your dissertation. Morality is an essential part of the law. Explore whether lawyers should defend guilty clients.
Relate the law to current events. Responding to Black Lives Matter gives you an opportunity to touch on racial justice.
Distinguish criminal proceedings from civil ones. Attach the United States to human rights institutions like the International Criminal Court. Examine intellectual property law as it relates to Indigenous cultures.
Keep reading and you’ll find something you want to write about. Follow our coverage for more legal guides.
