USLS JD Thesis Rules & Requirements AY 2016-2017
USLS JD Thesis Rules & Requirements AY 2016-2017
USLS JD Thesis Rules & Requirements AY 2016-2017
A. The Procedure
B. The Topic
1. Your topic should first be approved before working on your paper or thesis.
2. Post the following on the Facebook Groups Discussion Wall for purposes of
transparency and to avoid proposing a similar topic: (a) the proposed title of
your J.D. Paper or Thesis, (b) the thesis problem or the question which you
seek to answer in your Paper, and (c) your hypothesis on the problem or
question. Topics proposed by private message will not be entertained.
5. Your topic should focus on a justiciable legal matter, not a policy matter. It
should present a judicially-determinable legal problem and offer a supportable
hypothesis to resolve it.
6. Once the topic is approved, you can begin working on your Paper or Thesis.
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C. The Thesis Proposal (for those who choose to write a J.D. Thesis)
After your Thesis Topic or Title is approved, you have to prepare and submit
a Thesis Proposal containing the following:
3. Objective and Significance of the Study - Explain what you want to achieve by
undertaking the study. Both theoretical and practical objectives are
acceptable. You may wish to point out inconsistencies, or in contrast, show
continuities. You may also wish to criticize and propose alternatives. You may
provide a historical explanation or contribute towards the enrichment or
accepted doctrine or jurisprudence by adverting to comparative jurisprudence.
6. Conceptual Framework - Explain the legal theory that you are working with, or
that you presuppose.
1. The J.D. Paper and Thesis should be written in the same standards and in
substantially the same format as appellate briefs or memoranda.
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2. Standard Structure of a J.D. Thesis:
a. Thesis Title
b. Abstract
c. Table of Contents
d. Chapter 1 Introduction
e. Chapter 2 Sub-Problem A
f. Chapter 3 Sub-Problem B (Each sub-problem should be treated in a
separate chapter of the thesis.)
g. Chapter 4 x x x
h. Conclusion of the Study (Draw inferences from the answers you have
given to the sub-problems. Thesis inferences should not be mere
summaries, but reasoned conclusions.)
i. Bibliography
E. Format
1. Your J.D. Paper or Thesis must be written in clear, concise, and correct
English.
4. Printed copies shall be paper bound with La Salle green front and back cover.
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5. Paper Size: Letter (8.5 x 11)
6. Margins: 1.5" on the left side, and 1.0" on the top, bottom, and right sides
8. For Footnotes:
F. Notes on Plagiarism
3. Here is a Style Guide from the UST Law Review for your reference and
guidance: http://bit.ly/USTStyleGuide
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4. The following are unacceptable and will be rejected:
G. Submission of Copies
1. The electronic copy of your J.D. Paper or Thesis shall be submitted by email
to attyralph@gmail.com or attached in a private message on Facebook not
later than 10:00 P.M. on January 7, 2017. No late submission shall be
accepted.
3. Four (4) printed copy of your J.D. Paper or Thesis shall be submitted at the
College of Law Office not later than January 13, 2017. No late submission
shall be accepted.
1. The J.D. The paper shall be subject to a paper presentation, which shall be
public. The J.D. Thesis, on the other hand, shall be defended before a panel
of at least three (3) members.
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