PhD Course

Qualitative Empirical Research Methods in Law

Course Description: This introductory course aims to provide PhD candidates and Pre-PhD students with an understanding of the purpose and appropriate use of the major qualitative research methods. It will help students identify research methods suitable for their concrete research questions. Although qualitative research methods are often identified with the social sciences more generally than with the discipline of law in particular, also lawyers and legal scholars do make use of qualitative research methods. Examples of this type of research are studies that examine people’s perception of law and justice, the interactions between different courts, the effects of gender, or legal aid and access to justice. This introductory course will discuss different qualitative methods. It aims to provide students with an understanding of the purpose and appropriate use of the major qualitative research methods and to equip students with the skills to decide whether their research topic requires the use of qualitative research methods, to select the most appropriate research methods.

Prior Requirements: Being a PhD candidate

When: 5 March 2025 –  6 May 2025 mostly on Tuesday afternoons (see the schedule via the link). Classes are held in-person at the Leiden Law School and include 8 lectures and 3 tutorials.

Max External Participants: 5

Course Coordinator: Judith van Uden

Registration deadline: February 15, 2025