Research training courses

One of the most important aims of LERSnet is to promote research training in order to build capacity. This page brings together courses in the UK which provide training for those interested in conducting empirical research in law.

We are keen to include as many different kinds of courses and training as possible: from postgraduate courses to one-day workshops. The only criteria is that they would be of use to researchers conducting empirical research in law. If you think that your course or training programme fits the criteria, or you have attended a course that you found valuable, please contact Dr Liz Oliver at the University of Liverpool (UK-based courses) or Professor Angela Melville at the University of Manchester (non-UK-based courses) with details.

• short courses: the ESRC National Centre for Research Methods database holds information on a wide range of opportunities within the social sciences across the UK with a focus on research methods. It contains a searchable database of research methods training available across the UK. It is also a useful source of publications and links to leading academics in the field. Further information on short courses can be found below.
• Chicago-Kent Downtown Campus Library Online Empirical Research Tutorial

See below for information on short courses, postgraduate courses and summer schools.

Short courses

A range of short methods courses are available – often provided by universities and research centres across the UK. Details of some existing provision in the social sciences can be found below.

ESRC National Centre for Research Methods This website is an excellent source of information about training opportunities as well as a good first port of call for information relating to research methods.

Cathy Marsh Centre for Census and Survey Research (CCSR) CCSR is an interdisciplinary research centre in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Manchester. The Centre runs a range of short courses as well as seminars and events. The website also contains working papers and further useful information

Courses in Applied Social Surveys (CASS). CASS is a programme of short courses in applied social surveys run by the Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute (S3RI) at the University of Southampton

Centre for Research on Families and Relationships. The CRFR is a consortium research centre conducting research on families and relationships. It runs a series of short courses.

The Statistical Advisory Service. This Service at Imperial College is designed to support research in that institution but also provides some short courses in statistics and statistical software.

The Social Research Association (SRA). The SRA provides a programme of training to support the professional development of social researchers.

Postgraduate courses

ABERDEEN UNIVERSITY

Research degrees in law (PhD, MPhil, LLM)

Three research degrees are offered and students are expected to follow the Core Skills for Research Students course in their first year.

BRISTOL UNIVERSITY

Socio-Legal Research (MSc)

This programme aims to develop students’ knowledge and understanding of, and interest in, interdisciplinary approaches to the study of law and legal phenomena. Through the study of different research methodologies across the social sciences and law, it provides a sound research training for students wishing to proceed to PhD study or to a career in socio-legal research.

EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY

Theories and philosophies of legal research (LLM)

The course is designed to give students an overview of the full range of types of and approaches to legal research, and to introduce them to thinking about the nature of legal research as intellectual endeavour. The material covered by the course ranges from traditional doctrinal research, through law in context work, to socio-legal and empirical legal studies, and theoretical and philosophical research on legal phenomena.

MSc by research in law and society

The MSc by Research in Law and Society provides research training in socio-legal studies for students with backgrounds in law and the social sciences. The degree is intended for students who wish to continue to a PhD, or to proceed to carry out socio-legal research for government departments, the voluntary sector or the legal profession. Students pursue in-depth research, engage in lively debates, and contribute to a thriving research culture across the social sciences and law.

EXETER UNIVERSITY

Socio-legal research (MRes)

The course offers research training in generic social-science skills which provide students with a solid basis in social science theory and methodology. These are then built on within the socio-legal context through skills-based modules offered by the Law School and a specialist module reflecting the socio-legal research expertise of Law School staff.

KEELE

Social science research in law (MRes)

This new interdisciplinary masters programme in socio-legal studies at the School of Law offers the opportunity to acquire research skills and knowledge in socio-legal studies.

NOTTINGHAM UNIVERSITY

Socio-legal and criminiological research (MA)

A practical introduction to legal research aimed at providing students with a systematic grounding in empirical research methodology.

OXFORD CENTRE FOR SOCIO-LEGAL STUDIES

Legal research (MLitt, DPhil, MSt)

Students take an intensive training programme in socio-legal theory, core analytical themes in socio-legal studies, and practical research methods.

QUEEN MARY, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

MA by research in law

The MA by research is for students wishing to undertake in-depth, individually supervised research on topics of their own choice. Theoretical and interdisciplinary, as well as more practical and traditional approaches, are all accommodated in this programme. All students in this programme will attend a research methods course, exposing them to a broad range of theoretical and practical approaches to legal research.

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

Masters degree in law (LLM), including social science options

The University College London LLM includes a number of inter-disciplinary options aimed at those wishing to develop their understanding of law and social science.

WARWICK UNIVERSITY

Research degrees in law (LLM, MPhil, PhD)

The Law School has developed a specialised training programme for research students which includes, in addition to individual supervision, a Research Methods Course over two terms, an intensive Research Methods Workshop, a Theory and Research Course and Information Technology Training.

Postgraduate courses with research training modules

BUCKINGHAM UNIVERSITY

Legal research and research methods

This module is part of the LLM course.

CENTRE FOR SOCIO-LEGAL STUDIES, OXFORD

Theory and method in socio-legal research

This course aims to provide an introduction to research methods and literature for students at the CSLS and in the Law Faculty generally.

EMPIRICAL LEGAL STUDIES RESEARCH CENTRE, UCL

As part of its aim to build empirical and interdisciplinary research capacity in the field of law in the United Kingdom, members of the Empirical Legal Studies Research Centre contribute to a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses with an empirical element. From autumn 2008, LLM students will take a course entitled ‘Law in the real world: an introduction to empirical legal studies’.

Summer schools

EUROPEAN CONSORTIUM FOR POLITICAL RESEARCH

Wednesday 29 July to Saturday 15 August 2009

In 2008, the European Consortium for Political Research will organise its third Summer School in Methods and Techniques in cooperation with the University of Ljubljana. It is targeted at post graduate students, teachers and researchers in political science and related disciplines.

Vist the ECPR website for full details.

ESSEX SUMMER SCHOOL IN SOCIAL SCIENCE DATA ANALYSIS AND COLLECTION

13 July to 21 August 2009

The 42nd Essex Summer School takes place between 13 July and 21 August 2009. The School consists of three two-week sessions. Each session offers a variety of courses. courses run for either one or two weeks. Courses consist of at least one lecture and a practical session daily. Most courses deal with techniques of data collection, analysis, and model building. The Summer School also offers some courses on non-statistical but innovative approaches to social science. All Summer School instructors are experts in their field.
For more information on content, objectives and booking details, please visit the course website.