Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Final Master's Degree Project
Other languages of instruction: Catalan
Teaching staff
Introduction
The Master's Thesis is structured as follows:
- the resolution, to be carried out individually and in writing, as well as its subsequent oral defense, of a practical case that encompasses the subjects covered by the students during the master's program and reflects real scenarios of consulting and litigation.
Pre-course requirements
Given that it is convenient for the student to have received training from external internships to provide ample evidence of the utilization of acquired competencies and skills, the Thesis will be conducted in advance of the semester in which students have completed 30 credits of external internships. Additionally, this assessment will be contingent upon the successful completion of previous modules in the Master's program.
Objectives
The objective of the Master's Thesis is:
- to develop a research activity that allows students to familiarize themselves with the most recent case studies on the topics covered during the master's program, to understand the doctrinal and jurisprudential research tools in the academic field of legal sciences, and to draft an opinion on the proposed practical case, which they will subsequently have to present clearly and concisely in an oral defense.
- for students to confront a series of real, complex, and cross-cutting factual scenarios and attempt to resolve them using all the conceptual, theoretical, and practical apparatus acquired during their undergraduate and master's studies.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CA05 - Know and be able to apply professional ethical rights and duties in the lawyer’s dealings with clients, third parties, courts, public authorities and other lawyers.
- CA08 - Know how to identify the key requirements for the provision and organisation of legal consultancy.
- CB07 - Know how to apply acquired knowledge and problem-solving abilities in new or little-known surroundings within broader (or multidisciplinary) contexts related to their field of study.
- CB09 - Know how to communicate their conclusions to specialist and non-specialist audiences alike in a clear and unambiguous way along with the rationale and knowledge that supports them.
- CG01 - Acquire the ability to work individually and as part of a team as well as the communication and leadership skills required to progress in the legal profession.
Syllabus
The Master's Thesis consists of:
- The oral and written resolution of a practical case that encompasses different subjects related to the specialties of Law studied by students during the master's program, and in connection with paradigmatic or real scenarios of consultancy and litigation.
The thesis should demonstrate the application and integration of the learning received in the modules of Professional Organization, Legal Counseling, General Litigation, Special Litigation, and Professional Practice, as well as the effective use of available resources to efficiently solve the problems arising from its preparation.
The thesis should present an exposition of the problem considering the current legal-doctrinal reality, with a proposal from the student of the ways of resolution and/or interpretation of the analyzed topic.
Each thesis will consider all possible alternative solutions applicable to the case. For its development, the student must demonstrate autonomy, initiative, and the ability to apply acquired knowledge, as well as the ability to communicate their conclusions and the underlying knowledge and reasons supporting them, orally and in writing, to a specialized audience, in a clear and unambiguous manner.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Each thesis should consider the broadest possible perspective on the legal issue being analyzed and the different approaches to addressing it; all possible alternative solutions applicable to the case. For its development, the student must demonstrate autonomy, initiative, and the ability to apply acquired knowledge as well as the ability to communicate their conclusions, and the underlying knowledge and reasons supporting them, orally and in writing, to a specialized audience, in a clear and unambiguous manner.
The Master's Thesis includes 20 hours of in-person sessions, during which different sessions will be conducted throughout the course aimed at presenting the practical case, style and writing rules, to resolve any doubts that students may have about the case contents.
In the first half of June, the master's direction will provide students with the practical case to analyze.
At the same time, each student will be assigned a tutor, who will support the student throughout the process of completing the thesis. Support can be provided through in-person meetings, video conferences, or other forms of communication agreed upon by both parties.
The assignment of the tutor will be made from among the professors of the UIC and/or external professionals linked to the UIC, based on their knowledge of the subject matter of the case.
Students must have a minimum of 3 sessions with their respective tutors to be considered eligible to submit their thesis and proceed to the oral defense.
The publication of the practical case, the style guide, as well as all communications to students about the thesis will be made through the specific Moodle platform created on the UIC website. Likewise, the submission of the practical case by students will be done via Moodle.
Bibliography and resources
Specific to each module.