JJUA55243U Qualitative and Quantitative Empirical Legal Methods

This course will contribute to the students’ competence profile in the following terms.
A) In terms of knowledge, the student will be able to recognize and critically evaluate the diversity of empirical research techniques (e.g. interviews, survyes, network analysis) and approaches for carrying legal research, their advantages and challenges.

B) Within this framework, the students in terms of skills will be able:
(1) To identify empirical methods and data approapriate to legal research;
(2) To collect and synthesize legal information and data and understand the ethical implication of data collection and analysis;
(3) To articulate and develop research design and protocols for legal research;
(4) To work independently at a basic level with different methods and collaborate with other peers in the development of these capabilities and skills in the framework of groups’ presentations and discussions.

C) Finally, based upon this knowledge and skills, the student will analyse, contrast and evaluate the advantages and difficulties of Empirical Legal Methods. As a result the student will be able:
(1) To critically reflect on the process of data collection and analysis;
(2) To present and write reseach findings in a systematic manner;
(3) To enable the student to carry out independent empirical legal research;
(4) To increase his/her analytical capacity to innovate and integrate data analysis into legal thinking;
(4) To improve students’ understanding of the relevance of empirical methods for understanding the law, affecting his/her ability to adapt and meet clients demands and to understand the necessities of the new players in the digitalization global network (e.g. lawyers, firms, policy-makers, civil society, etc.).