This document discusses legal research in academia. It covers a range of topics from the types of assignments done in law degree programs, to the different types and sources of legal research, methods of referencing, and benefits of legal research. Legal research can be done on any law-related topic, can vary in length from short to long-form thesis, uses a variety of primary and secondary sources, and results in publications that contribute to the body of knowledge in an area of law. Legal research skills are important for scholarships, academic careers, and jobs in legal and policy fields.

1. z
From short assignment
to long thesis
Art of Legal Research in Academia

2. z
Assignments done as part of LLB and
LLM Program
 On what?
 How long?
 Which method?
 Which sources?
 Outcomes / Results?
 Classroom / academic research is slightly different from courtroom /
practitioner’s research

3. z
Legal Research
 To create new knowledge / to solve a problem / to answer a question
 Legal Research can be on any topic related to law
 It can be of any length
 It can be done applying one or more methods utilizing acceptable sources
 Results are resources e.g., books, chapters journals, blogs, articles,
reports etc.
 Your research is others’ resources

4. z
Different branches of law
 Municipal law / Domestic law / National law
 Civil / Contract / Tort/ Land / Property / Administrative / Company
 Criminal / Penal
 Constitutional
 International Law
 Public / Private
 Env / Trade / Human Rights / Law of the Sea / Criminal Law

5. z
Type of legal research
 Basic
 Strategic
 Applied
 Experimental
• Doctrinal / Theoretical
• Comparative
• Empirical
• Reform-oriented
• Multi-disciplinary

6. z
Sources
 Primary
 Secondary
 Current
 Old
 Acceptable
 Unacceptable

7. z
Sources …
 Peer reviewed v Non-peer reviewed
 Indexed (by major academic / scientific indexing bodies)
 Reputation of the publishers – OUP – CUP – Brill – Routledge –
Springer – Hart – EE – T&F
 Currency of the data / sources
 Empirical research – authenticity of the data collected
 Ethical clearance – informed decision – anonymity etc.

8. z
Referencing
 Is a must – to avoid plagiarism
 Style may vary – APA / Harvard / AGLC
 In Text - Footnotes – Endnotes – Bibliography
 Software – EndNote, RefWorks, Latex, Mendeley
 Data analysis and statistical software – NVivo, SPSS

9. z
What legal research can bring you?
 Scholarships in Masters and PhD programs
 Name and fame in academia
 Academic and research job including teaching
 Jobs in international organizations
 Collaboration with other researchers in the area

10. z
For scholarships
 Keep COVID in mind
 Prepare early
 Have a topic selected
 Have something written and published (even in newspapers)
 Have a research plan / proposal ready
 Know your area (major writers, their contributions, major journals, good
publishers, young and emerging talents, leading institutions)

11. z
Step by step
 Write your research proposal (3/5 pages max) with reference
 Have it read by your local mentor (your favorite teacher)
 Revise, refine and polish
 Send it to prospective supervisors / write customized emails
 Wait, do not lose hope, keep working until you can say -
 Eureka !!

12. z
Questions??
 Thank you!