S.J. Quinney College of Law

Directed Research

(Graded or Pass/Fail; 1-3 credits per semester)

Directed Research is designed for students who want to develop a focused research agenda or thesis that culminates in a substantial academic paper. This option is well suited for topics that are not regularly offered in the College of Law curriculum or for subjects a student wishes to explore in greater depth than a traditional course allows.

Directed Research Project Guidelines

Directed Research projects must involve meaningful academic engagement. Students are expected to:

• Conduct legal research, empirical research, and/or substantial tutorial discussion with a faculty supervisor; and

• Produce one or more substantial, scholarly written works

A Directed Research project may be used to satisfy the Seminar Writing Requirement when the project:

• Is approved in advance as a seminar substitute

• Meets all requirements for a Seminar Paper (outlined below)

• Is completed for three (3) graded credit hours, consistent with the expectations of LAW 7800 (Seminar)

Credit Hour Requirements

• Students must register for at least 1 and no more than 3 credit hours per Directed Research project

• Students may register for only one Directed Research project per semester

• With faculty and Associate Dean approval, students may complete a two-semester Directed Research project of up to 6 total credit hours under a single proposal

• Directed Research projects may be taken graded or pass/fail, subject to approval

  • Directed Research projects used to satisfy the Seminar Writing Requirement must be graded and taken for three (3) credit hours

• Students may count no more than 6 total credit hours of Directed Research, Directed Studies, or a combination of both toward graduation

• Students should expect to complete approximately 50 hours of work per credit hour

Directed Research Limitations

Directed Research projects may not:

• Substitute for a regularly offered course the student has not taken (even if the course is full)

• Serve primarily as teaching or research assistance without independent educational value

• Fulfill the College of Law’s experiential learning requirement

• Consist primarily of skills-based work

Directed Research Registration Process

To register for Directed Research, students must:

1. Identify a full-time faculty member who agrees to supervise the project

2. Submit the Directed Research & Directed Studies form (located at the bottom of this page)

Once submitted, the form is reviewed by the supervising faculty member and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. After approval and once registration opens, the Registrar will enroll the student.

Using Directed Research to Fulfill the Seminar Writing Requirement

A Directed Research project may be used to fulfill the Seminar Writing Requirement if it meets specific standards. This option allows students to complete a seminar-level research paper under faculty supervision outside of a traditional seminar course.

When Does Directed Research Count?

With prior approval, a Directed Research project may satisfy the Seminar Writing Requirement if it:

• • Matches the rigor and depth of a seminar paper

  • Addresses a clearly defined legal issue not otherwise covered by the law school curriculum

  • Is approved in advance by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

  • Is completed as a graded, three-credit Directed Research project, consistent with LAW 7800

Students are strongly encouraged to discuss this option early with their faculty supervisor.

Seminar Paper Requirements

To qualify as a Seminar Writing Requirement, the Directed Research paper must:

• • Address a significant legal issue

  • Provide original, in-depth, and critical legal analysis (not merely summaries)

  • Demonstrate substantial legal research, supported by extensive citations

  • Be written clearly and professionally, with proper grammar and organization

  • Be at least 7,000 words (excluding footnotes, endnotes, and bibliography)

  • Comply with all academic integrity standards

  • Receive a final grade of B or higher

Faculty Supervision and Review

Directed Research projects used to satisfy the Seminar Writing Requirement must include close faculty oversight:

• • The paper topic must be developed in consultation with a faculty member

  • The faculty supervisor must:

    • Review and provide detailed feedback on at least one complete draft

    • Encourage revisions (multiple drafts are strongly recommended)

    • Require review using plagiarism-detection software before final grading

    • Review and assign a grade to the final paper

If the research involves human subjects, students must obtain approval from the University of Utah Institutional Review Board (IRB) before beginning the project.

Deadline for Form Submissions:

Attention: Students must be enrolled in Directed Research/Directed Studies credits no later than 5:00 p.m. on the add/drop deadline for the semester. The application form should be submitted at least a week before the add/drop deadline in order to complete the approval process, which includes faculty approval and Associate Dean approval. Once the form and approvals are received, the Law Registrar will enroll the student in the credit(s).

Fill out the application »

Directed Studies

(Pass/Fail ONLY; 1-2 credits per semester)

Directed Studies is appropriate for students who desire to explore a particular aspect of a subject while learning research skills, but without completing a significant academic research paper.

Directed Studies Project Guidelines:

• Directed Studies Projects may be pursued on topics not regularly offered as a course in the College of Law, or on topics the student wishes to pursue in greater depth than course coverage would ordinarily permit.
• Directed Studies Projects may be on topics for which the supervising faculty member conducts research or produces scholarship, including research conducted with a faculty member.

Directed Studies Credit Hour Requirements: 

• Students must register for at least one, but no more than two, credit hours per Directed Studies Project.
• Students may not count more than six credit hours of Directed Research, Directed Studies, or a combination of those two toward graduation.
• Directed Studies Projects may not satisfy the Seminar Paper requirement.
• Directed Studies Projects must be taken on a pass/fail basis.
• Students should complete approximately 50 hours of work for each Directed Studies credit hour.

Direct Studies Registration:

• The student must identify a full-time faculty member who will oversee their Directed Studies Project; and
• Submit the Directed Research & Studies form.

Once the Directed Research & Studies form has been submitted, it will be forwarded to the supervising faculty member and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for approval. Once approved and after registration opens, the Registrar will enroll the student.

Deadline for Form Submissions:

Attention: Students must be enrolled in Directed Research/Directed Studies credits no later than 5:00 p.m. on the add/drop deadline for the semester. The application form should be submitted at least a week before the add/drop deadline in order to complete the approval process, which includes faculty approval and Associate Dean approval. Once the form and approvals are received, the Law Registrar will enroll the student in the credit(s).

Fill out the application »