National Law University, Orissa

Course: Research Methodology (LLM)

The Structure o Legal
Research
Abhik Majumdar

Topics Covered:
1. Introduction
2. Conceptualisation
3. Methodolog
!. Chapterisation

1. Introduction

"istinction bet#een introduction and

methodolog components must be maintained

Introduction introduces the topic

Addresses

$ature o% topic

&peci%ic area ou seek to #ork in

&peci%ic problem ou seek to address

'our approach (optional)

2. Conceptualisation
Conceptualisation v. Methodolog

"i%%erence bet#een conceptualising a paper*dissertation+

and #riting methodolog re,uirements

-oth need to be done separatel

Approach I advocate is+ engage in a conceptual e.ercise+

then e.trapolate ideas to e.isting methodolog %ormats

2.1 Conceptualisation

Three things ou need to clari% to our o#n

satis%action:

What ou #ant to do in this paper*dissertation

How ou propose to go about it

Why our area+ and our approach (i.e. the

/ho#0 component) are relevant

Chapters

2.1 Conceptualisation
/1o#0 Component2

&T3 %ormula

&ourcing

Treatment

3rocessing
4% In%ormation
5

2.1 Conceptualisation
&T3 %ormula

&ourcing

Treatment

3rocessing

3rimar and secondar

sources need to be speci%ied

6hat is primar and #hat is

secondar depends on
circumstances

3rimar 7 ra# data+ data that

has not been processed
through interpretation or
commentar

&econdar 7 interpretation or
commentar o% primar data

2.1 Conceptualisation
&T3 %ormula

&ourcing

Treatment

3rocessing

8suall %or la# scholars:

3rimar sources

&tatutes

9udgments

4%%icial documents

&econdar sources:

-ooks

Articles

Con%erence 3apers

2.1 Conceptualisation
&T3 %ormula

&ourcing

Treatment

3rocessing

:ither descriptive or evaluative

"escriptive treatments seek to

analse sourced data to
ascertain #hat the la# is on a
particular point

:valuative treatments seek to

evaluate a la# in terms o%
some e.ternal standard (i.e.
#hether it is good*bad+
just*unjust*+ e%%ective*ine%%ective
etc.)

2.1 Conceptualisation
&T3 %ormula

&ourcing

Treatment

3rocessing

Applies to both descriptive and

evaluative treatments

Can be o% several tpes:

"octrinal:

Analse la# %rom #ithin sstem

Comparative:

Compare #ith other legal

sstems

1istorical

Trace historical development

&ociological*:mpirical

Ascertain impact on societ

3. Methodolog

&cope

;imitations

<ormulation o% 1pothesis*=esearch >uestions

Testing o% 1pothesis*?alidation o% =esearch >uestions

Collection o% In%ormation

?alidation o% In%ormation

3resentation o% In%ormation

Analsis and Interpretation o% In%ormation

Chapterisation

3. Methodolog

&cope

;imitations

<ormulation o%
1pothesis*=esearch
>uestions

6hat

1o#

3. Methodolog

Testing o% 1pothesis*?alidation
o% =esearch >uestions

Collection o% In%ormation

?alidation o% In%ormation

3resentation o%
In%ormation

Analsis and
Interpretation o%
In%ormation

1o#

&ourcing

Treatment

3rocessing

!. Chapterisation

Identi% chapters (usuall three)

<or each chapter+ speci%

What ou #ill discuss in that chapter

How ou #ill go about it

Why that chapter is important to the overall

aims and objectives o% our
paper*dissertation