Empirical research in legal studies: design, application and methods 2

Classroom

Number of class hours: 15

Teaching methods applied; in-class discussion, reading assignments

The course continues the preparatory course in empirical methods in legal studies for doctoral candidates at a more advanced level. It is organised around several case studies using empirical methods in law (1600 -SZD-BENP). The case studies, which are discussed in class and approached through literature discussing specific empirical projects, are selected in such a way as to represent different strands of research and interests of the course participants. The objective of the course is to allow participants better insight into opportunities and limitations offered by empirical methods in law.

Since the course aims at improving participants’ understanding of empirical methods in law, participants are expected to have completed a general course in empirical methods in the social sciences at a graduate level or the introductory course in empirical methods in law at the doctoral level (1600-SZD-BENP).

Participants are expected to take an active part in the in-class discussion. Every participant will be asked to provide a short introduction to a case study of their choice (teaming up in groups of up to three persons will be allowed or requested depending on the number of participants). Due to the nature of the class, presence in the class is required (one absence allowed).

The course will use two types of literature, handbooks on the methodology of empirical legal research and research papers and monographs. Handbooks are listed below:

1. Banakar, R. and M. Travers, eds. Theory and method in socio-legal research, Hart 2005.

2. McConville, M., ed. Research methods for law. Edinburgh University Press, 2010

3. Leeuw, F. L., and H. Schmeets. Empirical legal research: A guidance book for lawyers, legislators and regulators. Edward Elgar Publishing, 2016.

4. Cane, P., and H. Kritzer, eds. The Oxford handbook of empirical legal research. OUP Oxford, 2010.

5. Epstein, L. and A. D. Martin. An introduction to empirical legal research. Oxford University Press, 2014.

Literature to be used for case study discussion will be provided in class, depending on the research interests of seminar participants.

Student knows:

1. Select relevant literature in empirical legal studies methodology

2. Outcomes and limitations of empirical methods in specific case studies

Student can:

3. Make informed decisions about using an empirical method in their research project

4. Continue studying the methodology of empirical research in law on their own

Principles for passing the classes and the subject (including resit session); Course participation will be graded, exams are not available.

Methods for the verification of learning outcomes; Participants will be evaluated informally based on their input.

Evaluation criteria: Quality of input into the in-class discussion, quality of introduction to the case study