B2425 - Sem. Research of Legal Sources and Methods of Editing Scientific Texts

Academic Year 2024/2025

  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Legal Studies (cod. 9062)

Learning outcomes

The main purpose of the seminars is to provide students with a knowledge of the method of drafting and editing a scientific text. The attention focuses on the methodology of research, to recognize and understand the principles that underlie such a complex activity. The seminars also aim to deliver to the students the main guidelines in order to research and to individuate the most authoritative legal sources.

Course contents

The main purpose of the seminars is to provide students with a knowledge of the method of drafting and editing a scientific text. The attention focuses on the methodology of research, to recognize and understand the principles that underlie such a complex activity. The seminars also aim to deliver to the students the main guidelines in order to research and to individuate the most authoritative legal sources.

Readings/Bibliography

Ishwara Bhat, Idea and Methods of Legal Research (Oxford University Press 2019), Chapter 4 ‘Choosing, Designing, and Building the Legal Research Theme’, limited to pp. 99-109;

Emilia Korkea-aho and Päivi Leino-Sandberg, ‘Interviewing lawyers: a critical selfreflection on expert interviews as a method of EU legal research’, European Journal of Legal Studies, 12(1), 2019, pp. 17-47.

Kristin Luker, Salsa Dancing into the Social Sciences: Research in an Age of InfoGlut, (Harvard University Press 2008), chapter 4 ‘What is this a case of anyway’, pp. 51-75.

Wendy Schrama, ‘How to carry out interdisciplinary legal research. Some experiences with an interdisciplinary research method’, Utrecht Law Review Volume 7, Issue 1, 2011.

Teaching methods

This research seminar is an interactive course, where students are expected engage with each other, the readings, and the lecturer, with a view to creating an open and supportive learning
environment. Preparing ahead of each session and actively participating in class are therefore essential.
Methods of instruction include:
- Group discussions based on the assigned readings and questions for discussion;
- Group exercises in class;
- Students’ presentations of one of the readings assigned for the session;

Assessment methods

Assessment takes place throughout the course and is based on both formative and summative elements.

Office hours

See the website of Tania Abbiate