Workshop: Quantitative Insights for Lawyers

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Empirical methods and quantitative evidence play an increasingly prominent role in contemporary legal scholarship. This workshop given by Prof. Philip Hans is based on his book Quantitative Insights for Lawyers and is designed specifically for PhD researchers in law who wish to strengthen their ability to critically engage with quantitative arguments, data, and empirical claims in legal research.

The two-day workshop introduces core quantitative concepts that frequently arise in legal scholarship, case law, and interdisciplinary research, such as estimation, probability, uncertainty, and interpretation of statistical results. Rather than focusing on technical calculations, the emphasis lies on conceptual understanding and critical assessment: how quantitative findings are produced, how they should be interpreted, and how they can be meaningfully integrated into doctrinal, theoretical, or empirical legal research. Using illustrative examples from legal practice and research, participants will learn how to evaluate empirical studies, scrutinize expert reports, and assess the validity and relevance of quantitative evidence used to support legal arguments. Particular attention is paid to common pitfalls in the use of data, the limits of quantitative methods, and the role of assumptions and context in empirical claims.

By the end of the workshop, PhD candidates will be better equipped to:

• critically read and assess quantitative and empirical legal scholarship;
• engage more confidently with interdisciplinary research involving statistics or data analysis;
• formulate sharper research questions and methodological choices;
• and communicate more effectively with empirical researchers and quantitative experts.

The workshop aims to enhance methodological awareness and quantitative literacy as essential skills for high-quality doctoral research in law.

The workshop is organized over two days: March 12 and 13, 2026. Preliminary schedule:

• Day 1 March 12, 10:00 – 12:00
  • 1a: Introduction (arithmetic, from easy to slightly more difficult)
  • 1b: Basic concepts in statistics
• Day 1 March 12, 14:00 – 16:00
  • 2a: Simple probability distribution
  • 2b: Two ways to do statistics
• Day 2 March 13, 10:00 – 12:00
  • 3a: Single Regression Model
  • 3b: Multiple Regression Model
• Day 2 March 13, 14:00 – 16:00
  • 4a: Creating and evaluating forecasts
  • 4b: Algorithms

LEVEL: Basic

METHOD: Quantitative

ABOUT THE LECTURER: Philip Hans Franses has written the book Quantitative Insights for Lawyers (Kwantitatief Inzicht voor Juristen) and has a talent for making complex concepts accessible and relevant, connecting them to everyday practice, not only in law but in all areas of life.

PREREQUISITES: No prior knowledge required.

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ELS Academy’s No-Show Policy:
Please note that the workshops are given by experts in the field who do this on a voluntary basis. Places are often limited and we have people on the waiting list. For this reason, the ELS Academy has a strict no-show policy. In case you are prevented from attending the workshop, kindly send an email to contact@elsacademy.nl at least 48 hours before the workshop to make space for people on the waiting list.

If you do not attend the workshop without prior cancellation, your supervisor will be informed about your no-show and you will not be able to register for another ELS Academy event for the next two months. This is also very unfortunate for us, however, it can be prevented if we receive a simple cancellation via e-mail.

Thank you for understanding and see you there!