Journal of the Charles University Law Faculty
Hubert Smekal, Katarína Šipulová
Author’s affiliation:
Faculty of Law, Masaryk University Brno
Empirical Legal Research
Jurisprudence 6/2016 Section: Articles Page: 31-38
Keywords: empirical legal research, qualitative approach, quantitative approach, case study, law and politics
Abstract: The article seeks to introduce the possibilities and limits of empirical research, in particular, by using examples from the field of law and politics. The text suggests why it would be beneficial for lawyers to become familiar with the fundamentals of empirical research and refers to works that could serve as an introduction to the field. When doing research, as well as when drafting and applying legal rules, lawyers often overstep the enclosed legal system and make contact with the social world; therefore, they should seek to understand the basic principles of social science research, which has a long tradition in uncovering social reality. The text further acknowledges the irreplaceable role of legal experts in research on law. The article points to the advantages and limits of the qualitative and quantitative approaches to research and suggests the direction in which empirical legal research could go in the future.
