Legal Research: Use of Techniques, Tools and Evolving Technology

  • Sunandini
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  • Sunandini

    PhD Scholar at Law at Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur, India

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Abstract

Research is a process of collecting information about a subject and then analysing it for enhanced knowledge with the use of different methods or techniques. These strategies or techniques construe what is known as ‘Research Techniques’. Generally, the law follows the techniques of social sciences research as the base. However, the sources referred while undertaking the research increase due to complex laws and legislations. The most popular method of legal research is Doctrinal Research, where the researcher without stepping out in the real world, analyses the laws, legislations, case laws, amendments and other documentary pieces of evidence to conclude on a research problem. The sources of legal research can be categorized into three divisions and the evolving technology has given it a digital shape. The availability of these sources at multiple domains and collating information is a major challenge for a legal researcher. The academic institutions play a vital role in providing access of these resources and training their students for the same. Bar Council of India mandates the institutions for inculcation of Information Technology in providing legal education as per the Legal Education Rules of 2008 later revised in the year 2020. The majority of the resources are available digitally and thus require accessibility. But does a researcher go on subscribing to these resources individually burning a hole in the pocket? Looking into these considerations intellectuals of the world came up with different initiatives to promote open access to scholarly literature. The legal fraternity also took on the initiative of open access initiative but was a bit delayed compared to other disciplines. The open access initiative has taken over by storm and many intellectuals and legal scholars are contributing for the same.

Type

Research Paper

Information

International Journal of Law Management and Humanities, Volume 5, Issue 1, Page 159 - 173

DOI: https://doij.org/10.10000/IJLMH.112467

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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution -NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits remixing, adapting, and building upon the work for non-commercial use, provided the original work is properly cited.

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