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Workshop on Socio-Legal Research Methods

Date: 01 to 05 October, 2009

Organized by:

Centre for Civil & Criminal Justice Administration

National Law Institute University,

Kerwa Dam Road,

Bhopal—462044, INDIA

www.nliu.com

Sponsored by:

Indian Council of Social Science Research,

New Delhi, India

Introduction:

The need for empirical focus in legal research is now more expressed than was it

ever before. The legal research in this country has always been dominated by

doctrinal method. This has served only limited objectives. The development of

empirical traditions in legal research in India could not take place effectively. The

research lacking empirical focus has not been able to contribute significantly for

policy purposes or programme devising. The situation was the result of various

factors. Primarily, the scholars pursuing law courses often do not have enough

opportunity to train themselves in advanced methods of research as the curriculum

of law courses have very limited coverage of research methodology and that too is

available at only courses at LL.M level. Resultantly, a large number of law students

who join various assignments realize that the formulating or writing research

proposal, collecting and compiling data, analysis of data and subsequently the

preparation of report are tasks requiring special skills not possessed by them. Legal

scene in the recent past has drastically changed. It now involves the knowledge and

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methods of parallel social sciences. This situation has further necessitated a proper

research training for law scholars and students.

Objectives:

In view of the above, a well-structured short term training programme in the

area of research methodology and computer applications in socio-legal research

could be highly useful for not only to the fresh researchers and teachers in the

university/colleges but also for those senior faculty members who did not have this

type of exposure in their times of growing.

The core objective of the workshop would be to developing skills in the areas

of construction and applications of research methodology, data analysis through use

of software and computer applications.

The Workshop intends to adopt a definite methodology to achieve the

objectives of the programme. Besides conducting the practical sessions using various

softwares, the participants would also be allotted the assignments of preparing a

research proposal detailing all necessary facets like formulation of research

problems, research design, sampling, hypothesis building, analysis frame etc.

Area to be covered: Following are some of the areas likely to be focused in this

programme:

• Research Methodology- Assessing the needs in socio-legal spheres

• Developing Research Proposals: Concepts and Skills

• Sampling: Theory and practice

• Methodological Innovations in doctrinal and non-doctrinal Legal Research

• Case Analysis Method

• Content Analysis for Legal Research

• Quantitative and Qualitative Applications in Socio-Legal research

• Software in legal research practice.

• Developing data analysis plan for computerization

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• Introduction and application of SPSS/ package

• Use of parametric and non-parametric Statistics in data analysis

• Use of graphics and diagrams in data analysis.

• Basic skill for searching socio-legal science information

• Presentations of assignments on Research proposals prepared by the

participants

Symposium on Legal Research: Current Status and Future Priorities

While four days of this Workshop would be allotted to the training of methods in legal research, the first day of the programme is to be devoted for a Symposium on ‘Legal Research: Current Status and Future Priorities’ on October 1, 2009. The Symposium will dwell over following sub-themes in different sessions/panels:

• Legal research: Demands & Directions

• Empirical Legal Research: Problems & Perspectives

• Qualitative Methods in Legal research

• Innovations in legal research

• Law Impact Analysis and its role in Legal Reforms

• Role of Law Schools in the promotion of Legal Research

This slot is mainly reserved for experienced and senior faculty. There will be at least two panel discussions on the above themes. Those desirous of contributing a paper on any of the above themes are requested to write us separately.

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Level of Participation:

Faculty members of law departments and law schools, social scientists, research

executives, and research scholars working in various streams of socio-legal research

and social science research are proposed to be involved in this workshop. The

number of local and non-local participants is proposed be kept 20 and 20 (Total 40)

respectively.

Certificate:

This interaction has been conceived as ‘Certificate Course’ and the participants after

the successful completion of this course would be offered a Certificate from this

University.

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For Indian Participants:

As the workshop has only 40 seats, it is therefore suggested that the participants

should first send their registration requests along with their brief bio-data. On the

basis of the screening the selected participants would be asked to sent the

registration fee.

i) The last date of registration request is 15 July, 2009

ii) Notification of selected participants by 20 July, 2009

iii) Last date of submission of registration fees by the selected participants would be

15 August, 2009

The faculty members interested to take part in the workshop are requested to write

separately to the Convener, Workshop.

For International Participants:

The delegates from abroad should e-mail to the Convener, Workshop about their

participation. They need not sent registration fees in advance as the same can be

submitted on the spot after their arrival.

Participation Fee:

A nominal fee is proposed to be charged from the participants. The proposed fee

structure would be as follows:

For Indian Participants:

@ Rs. 2500/- for Faculty members

@ Rs. 2000/- for Research Scholars/Students

For International Participants:

@ 350 US Dollar for Faculty members

@250 US Dollar for Research Scholars/Students

The fee would include training material, food and modest accommodation in the

University Guest House on sharing basis for five days. Any extra day, prefixing or

suffixing would be charged as per rules. In case participants wish to stay in Hotels,

prior information be made or book them directly.

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About NLIU:

The NLIU has earned a front line status of an institution imparting quality legal

education. In its brief journey of less than a decade, it has been able to carve a niche

for itself. This University now stands as one of the most reputed legal institutions in

the country and it has been rated as one of the best law Universities in the country.

Situated on hillocks surrounded by the lakes and valleys and clouded with amicable

weather, the NLIU has state of art modern facilities and infrastructure. The campus

id Wi-Fi enabled and the library has huge collections of books and journals.

Numbers for Contact:

Prof. G. S. Bajpai

0755– 2696965 (Telefax)

0755-2696621(Office)

09302920017 (Mobile)

Dr. Ashish Gupta

09425655599(Mobile)

Patron: Prof. S. S. Singh , Director, NLIU

Co-Patron: C. M. Garg, Registrar, NLIU

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Registration Form

Name:

Age: Sex:

Designation:

Mailing Address:

E-Mail:

Phone :

Arrival Details:

Date: Time:

Departure Details:

Date: Time:

Accommodation Required: Yes/No

Number of accompanying person:

Registration Fees: …………………/-

D.D. No. & Bank:

Dated:

[Demand Draft to be drawn in favour of Convener, Workshop on Socio-Legal Research Methods, NLIU, Bhopal.]

International participants registration fees to be paid on the spot.

Filled in form to be sent to:

Prof. G. S. Bajpai

Convener,

Workshop on Socio-Legal Research Methods

National Law Institute University

Kerwa Dam Road, Bhopal [M. P.] - 462 044

Website: www.nliu.com

E-mail: bhopalnliu@gmail.com