NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY, ASSAM

Research Methods and Legal Writing syllabus for LL M

Course compiled and taught by

Dr. Thangzakhup Tombing

1. Details of Course Offered

Legal Research course for LL M at National Law University, Assam attempts to familiarize
students with the intricacies of legal research from notions of legal theories and legal reasoning.
Learners are introduce to idea of law from the perspective of the relation of law and logic; idea
justice, experience and the also from the perspective of the symbiotic relation between law and
policy.

The legal research course attempts to inculcate among learners the quality of critical legal
researcher who is incisive, confident, responsible and ethical. The course is designed and proposed
to be taught to cater the need of the 21st century legal research which is not purely doctrinal or
library based but is also multi-disciplinary in its approach and orientation. However, major
emphasis is also laid on legal research and language of law as learners basically from law
background who may be aspiring to pursue career in law.

2. Objective of study

1. To foster among learners the craft to articulate and critically examine vital and
controversial legal with comprehensive understanding of the science of law and legal
language.
2. To familiarize learners with the intricacies of research in law from doctrinal as wells
empirical research perspectives.
3. To augment learners to realize the importance and significance of research in dismantling
ignorance and prejudice in the society with end goal of encouraging and training them to
write research paper, articles, dissertation etc…

3. Course Learning Outcome

1. On completion of the offered course, learners would have been equipped to develop good,
effective and efficient understanding and management of complex socio- legal issues.
2. The course is expected to enhance and harness learners research skills to easily distinguish
intricate research problems in any branch of knowledge, particularly in the domain of legal
knowledge.

1
 3. The learners are expected to able to draft meaningful and poignant research synopsis, and
also undertake theoretical/ fundamental/ empirical research on complex as well
contemporary legal issues.

4. Detail Structure of the Course

1. Module 1

Relation between law and Logic

Logic is a tool for legal reasoning, legal arguments and legal research.

Concepts of Research

Meaning of research; difference between research and common sense; legal reasoning difference
between research and research methodology ; research in social sciences; research in the field of
law; components of good research; purpose behind teaching the subjects of research methodology;
types of research : doctrinal research; non - doctrinal research; comparative research; descriptive
research; empirical research; evaluative research; experimental research; historical research; inter
- disciplinary research; inductive and deductive research; the emergence of socio - legal research
in India.

Introduction of Legal Research

Nature and scope of legal research; definition of legal research.

Purpose of legal research: ascertaining the law; highlighting ambiguities and gaps; determining
coherence, stability and consistency; social auditing of law; suggesting reforms.

Broad nature of legal research: quantitative legal research; qualitative research.

Kinds of legal research: descriptive and analytical research; applied and pure legal research;
quantitative and qualitative research; doctrinal and non- doctrinal research; and comparative legal
research.

2. Module II

Formulation of Research Problem

Conditions to be conducive to the formulation of a research problem; intellectual sufferings,

identification of a research problem; role of a research supervisor; role of research funding
agencies;

2
Hypothesis and Research Design:

Concept, Formation and Utility of Hypothesis; Types of Hypothesis - Null Hypothesis, False and
Barren Hypothesis; Significance of Hypothesis in Research, Characteristics of a useful hypotheses.

Meaning, Definition and Significance of Research Design; Contents and Essentials of Research
Design; Types of Research Design -Diagnostic, Explanatory, Exploratory and Experimental
Research Design, phases in research designing, advantage of research designing.

3.Module III

The Process of Data Collection:

Questionnaire Method:

Meaning, Nature, Purpose of a Questionnaire; Format of a Questionnaire; Types of Questionnaire;

Arranging of Sequence of Questions; Covering Letter on a Questionnaire; Advantages and
Disadvantages of Questionnaire Method.

Observation Method:

Meaning, Features, Nature and Purpose of Observation Method; Types of Observation Method;
Process or Steps in Observation Method; Advantages and Disadvantages of Observation Method.

Interview Method:

Meaning, Nature, Feature and purpose of Interview Method; Relevance of Schedule in Interview
Technique; Functions of Interview Method ; Types of Interview Method; Merits/Limitations of
Interview Method.

Case Study Method:

Meaning, Concept, Principles, Types and Sources of Case Study; Planning Involved in Case Study;
Merits and De-Merits of Case Study Method.

Sampling Method:

Meaning, Nature, Features Principles and Purpose of Sampling Method; Types of Sampling
Method - Probability Sampling - Random, Systematic, Stratified, Cluster and Multistage
Sampling; Non Probability Sampling -Quota, Convenience, Incidental, Purposive Sampling.

Interpretation of Data and Content Analysis

3
4.Module IV

Report Writing

Purpose of Report Writing; Pre-Requisites of a Good Report Writing; Types of Report Writing -
Term Paper; Dissertation, Thesis; Book Review; Article and Research Paper; Techniques of
Writing an Articles, Research Papers and Abstract, Essentials of Report Writing - The Preliminary
Section, The Main Body, List of Table and Figures, Concluding Remark.

Methods of Citation

Procedure Involved in Tracing the Legal Periodicals: Periodical Index; Text Notes; Foot Notes;
End Notes; References; Bibliography; Different Methods of Preparing of a Bibliography;
Difference between a ‘Foot Note’ , a ‘Text Note’, a ‘Reference’, an ‘End Note’ and a
‘Bibliographic Entry’.

5. Prescribed Readings/ suggested readings

C.R. Kothari, Research Methodology: Methods and Techniques, New Age International (P)
Publishers, 2004.

Gerard Guthrie, Basic Research Methods: An Entry to Social Science Research, Sage Publications,
N. Delhi – 2010

James Arthur, Michael Waring, Robert Coe, Larry V hedges, Research Methods and
Methodologies in Education, Sage publications ltd. 2012

Jill K. Jesson, Lydia Matheson and Fiona M. Lacey, Doing Your Literature Review : Traditional
and Systematic Techniques, Sage Publications, N. Delhi

Kushal Vibhuti & Filipos Aynalem, Legal Research Methods, Published under the sponsorship of
the Justice and Legal System Research Institute, 2009

Mona Purohit, Legal Education and research methodology, Second Edition, Central Law
Publications, Allahabad, 2012.

P.S. Bhatnagar, Data Interpretation and Report Writing, S.K. Verma and M. Afzal Wani, Legal
Research and Methodology, Legal Research and Methodology, ILI, pp. 418 – 431.

Ram Ahuja, Research Methods, Rawat Publications, N. Delhi, Reprint 2012

Rattan Singh, Legal research Methodology, Lexis Nexis, India, First edition 2013.

S.K. Verma and M. Afzal Wani, Legal Research and Methodology, Legal Research and
Methodology, ILI, New Delhi.

4
Wlliam J. Goode and Paul K.Hatt, Methods in Social Research, First India Reprint, Surjeet
Publications, 2006, Chapter – 11 Constructing a Questionnaire and Chapter 21 Preparing the
Report, pp. 359 - 376.

Wlliam J. Goode and Paul K.Hatt, Methods in Social Rsearch, First India Reprint, Surjeet
Publications, 2006