Methodology of Legal Research
Objectives
You will learn:
- the types of trabalho final available at NOVA
- how to distinguish between different types of academic papers
- how to write a literature review and identify gaps in the literature
- how to use library resources and other databases available online, such as SSRN and Researchgate
- how to write a research plan
- how to use extra-legal knowledge in a law master thesis
- how to critically engage with other's work
- how to give an oral presentation
- how to give and receive comments to academic work
You will prepare a research plan. This activity will prepare you for the non-taught part of the master
General characterization
Code
33262
Credits
6
Responsible teacher
Available soon
Hours
Weekly - Available soon
Total - 224
Teaching language
Available soon
Prerequisites
Available soon
Bibliography
Available soon
Teaching method
You are asked to perform preparatory tasks (reading papers, registering in websites, etc) at home. In class, you are guided through the content of the course and the application of the concepts and skills learned in class. Afterwards, you can train on your own and receive feedback.
Evaluation method
Final exam
The final exam consists in the submission of a research plan. The deadline is 15 July.
Continuous evaluation
A grade will be given to the students on the basis of their participation in the course activities. This grade will count 30 % of the final grade if and only if higher than the grade of the final exam.
The list of activities include:
- Participate in short surveys
- Identify and classify the research question in published research
- Reflect on the use (actual and potential) of extra-legal research
- Start using recommended software and databases
- Search for one or more potential supervisors
Subject matter
- Overview of the course
- Types of trabalho final
- Doctrinal legal research (including comparative law)
- Legal research and extra-legal research
- Sources: A typology
- How to search for resources
- Literature review and the gap in the literature
- From the gap in the literature to a research plan ¿ via a research question
- How to criticize primary and secondary sources
- The non-taught phase: Tips and a checklist
- Research plan workshop