This unit allows students to complete a sustained piece of research under the supervision of an academic staff member. Together, LAW498 Honours Research A and this unit, LAW499, allow students to demonstrate, including to potential employers, that they have advanced research and legal and academic writing skills. To apply for postgraduate study programs in Australia or overseas (i.e. Masters or a PhD), students may have to demonstrate that they have completed an extended, supervised research paper such as the research paper required to complete this unit.

There are no classes in LAW499 as such; teaching takes place through interactions between the student and supervisor. Students select their own research topic in consultation with, and subject to the approval of, their supervisor. This unit is the equivalent of the Honours research project that students in other degrees undertake in a separate semester or year of study. In Law, the Honours program is embedded within the curriculum and the supervised research experience is offered only to those students who are on track to graduate with First Class Honours. Part of the learning experience in this unit is designing and planning a unique research project, which means that each supervised research paper is different. There are few boundaries on this task, provided students can find a supervisor; define a topic that falls within a broad definition of legal research; and complete their paper within the required time period.