Blended LL.M.
Programme
Course 01 – Legal Research Methodology
COURSE MANUAL
BLENDED LL.M. PROGRAMME
COURSE 01 – LEGAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Course Instructor:
Dr. Shilpi Bhattacharya
Professor, Jindal Global Law School
Today’s legal system requires lawyers who can critically understand the legal methodologies and
reasoning behind the court systems, law-making bodies, and other stakeholders in the legal system.
This course aims to provide students with a fundamental understanding of these methodologies
and reasoning. It also familiarizes students with the context, syntax, and grammar of law which
are vital to address situations that lawyers, judges, and legal institutions regularly engage with.
Students will examine the various sources of law and develop a critical understanding of law-
making processes used by the legislature and courts. In addition, students will learn how to
approach, read, and critically interpret judgments, laws and rules, and other sources of law. Beyond
this, the course aims to refine legal writing and research skills culminating in the ability to prepare
and produce case briefs, client opinions, or research notes that accurately communicate students’
substantive arguments in the context of corporate law and legal practice. During the course,
students will hear from legal practitioners and scholars who will share practical insights into legal
research and writing in their fields of law. Finally, we will also discuss the future of legal research,
and the impact that technology will have on the way lawyers will work in the future.
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Blended LL.M. Programme
Course 01 – Legal Research Methodology
Module 1: The Legal System: Foundations, Institutions & Processes
1. The Legal System: Foundations, Institutions & Processes
a. What is the Law?
b. Sources of Law
2. Institutions of Government
a. Federalism and the Branches of Government
b. Separation of Powers
3. Legal Processes and Procedures
a. The Parliament – How Laws are Made
b. The Judiciary – How Laws are Interpreted
c. The Executive – How Laws are Administered
4. The Importance of Precedent and Persuasive Argument
a. The Doctrine of Precedent
b. The Use of International and Foreign Sources of Law in Domestic Context
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Blended LL.M. Programme
Course 01 – Legal Research Methodology
Module 2: Legal Research and Writing
1. Introduction
a. Introduction to Legal Research
b. Making your Research Plan
c. Preparing an Annotated Bibliography
d. Preparing a Literature Review
e. Guest Segment on Tools for Effective Legal Research: Mr. Buddhi Prakash Chauhan,
Director, Global Library, O. P. Jindal Global University
2. Introduction to Legal Databases
a. Online Tools of Legal Research
b. Guest Segment on Search strategies: Mr. Buddhi Prakash Chauhan, Director, Global
Library, O. P. Jindal Global University
c. Using legal databases effectively:
i. Manupatra tutorial
ii. LexisNexis tutorials
iii. SCC Online tutorial
iv. Westlaw tutorial
3. Introduction to Legal Citation and Legal Methods
a. The Importance of Legal Citation
b. Guest Segment on “Knowledge Management and Legal Practice: The Importance of
Procedures and Appropriate Methods”: Mr. Malcolm Dowden, Legal Director at Womble
Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP
c. Using Different Citation Methods
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Blended LL.M. Programme
Course 01 – Legal Research Methodology
4. Ethical Research
a. Possible Pitfalls of Unethical Research Practices
b. Plagiarism
5. Legal Writing
a. Introduction to Legal Writing
b. Guest Segment on “Effective Legal Writing”: Mr. Malcolm Dowden, Legal Director at
Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP
c. The IRAC method
d. Writing Legal Memos
e. Writing Emails and Letters
f. Guest Segment on “Writing in Corporate Law: Memos and Legal Advice”: Mr. Anirban
Bhattacharya, Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas
Module 3: Judicial and Statutory Interpretation
1. Judicial Public Policy Making: Common Law & Judicial Activism
a. Different Approaches to Judicial Interpretation
b. Judicial Activism and Public Policy Making - Introduction to Judge-made-law
2. Statutory Law and Interpretation
a. Different Approaches to Statutory Interpretation and Implications for Legal Research
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Blended LL.M. Programme
Course 01 – Legal Research Methodology
Module 4: Key Research Methodologies
1. Research methodologies in law and social science
a. Introduction to Different Research Methodologies
b. Doctrinal Research
2. Quantitative Research Methodologies
a. Introduction to Quantitative Research Methodologies
b. Guest Segment on “Empirical Research in Legal Policy and Practice”: Professor Sarah
Kelly, Associate Professor, University of Queensland, Australia
3. Qualitative Research Methodologies
a. Introduction to Qualitative Research Methodologies
b. Guest Segment on “Qualitative Research in Legal Policy: A UN law reform perspective”:
Dr. Hemali Shah, Research Associate, United Nations Centre for Trade Facilitation and
Electronic Business (UN/CEFACT), Australia
Module 5: Research in Legal Practice
1. Changing laws
a. Guest Segment on “How to stay up to date on the law: Tools and Tricks”: Mr. Bhavin
Patel, Consultant, Bayside Tech
b. Guest Segment on “Thought Leadership for Lawyers”: Ms. Jennifer Milford, Former
Chief Operating Officer, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas
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Blended LL.M. Programme
Course 01 – Legal Research Methodology
3. Legal Research in Different Practice Areas – An Experts’ Perspective
a. Guest Segment on “The Importance of Effective Legal Research: A Judge’s
Perspective”: The Hon. Sarah Derrington, President of the Australian Law Reform
Commission and aJudge of the Federal Court of Australia
b. Guest Segment on “Research in Litigation: Research and Preparation for Trial”: Mr.
Aditya Swarup, Advocate, Supreme Court of India
c. Guest Segment on “Research in Corporate Law: M&A (introduction to a Due Diligence
Report)”: Mr. Anirban Bhattacharya, Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas
d. Guest Segment on “Research in Law Reform: Driving Policy Change through Effective
Research (Case study of Online Dispute Resolution in India)”: Mr. Desh Gaurav Sekhri,
Officer on Special Duty NITI Aayog, Government of India
e. Guest Segment on “Research in Practice: Advising Government on Public Policy and
LegalReform”: Ms. Shahana Chatterji, Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas
f. Guest Segment on “Research in Capital Markets: introduction to a DRHP”: Mr. Agnik
Bhattacharyya, Partner, AZB and Partners
Module 6: The Future of Legal Research and Legal Practices
1. Introduction to Technology and the Law
a. How Technology is Shaping the Law
b. Guest Segment on “Introduction to Technology and the Law”: Professor Michael Adams,
Head of School, University of New England Law School, Australia
2. Using technology for legal research
a. Technology and Legal Practice
b. Guest Segment on “Technology and Legal Practice: Past, Present and Future”: Nick
Abrahams, Global Head of Tech & Innovation, Norton Rose Fulbright, Australia
c. Guest Segment on “Technology and the Law: Introduction to Coding”: Mr. Bhavin Patel,
Consultant, Bayside Tech
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Blended LL.M. Programme
Course 01 – Legal Research Methodology
Live Session Details:
Lives Session Date Topic
Week 1 02 January 2022 Introduction to LRM,
course structure,
LS – 10 am to 1 pm assessments.
Week 2 9 January 2022 Discussion on research
techniques and writing a
LS – 10 am to 1 pm dissertation.
Week 3 16 January 2022 Discussion on plagiarism
and citations.
LS – 10 am to 1 pm
Week 4 23 January 2022 Discussion on research
methodologies.
LS – 10 am to 1 pm
Week 5 30 January 2022 Discussion on practical
aspects of writing and
LS – 10 am to 1 pm writing tips.
Week 6 06 February 2022 Discussion on dissertation
writing and Q&A.
LS – 10 am to 1 pm
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Blended LL.M. Programme
Course 01 – Legal Research Methodology
Graded Assessment Details
1. First graded assessment to be released on 14 January 2022. The submission for the
same will be on 6 February 2022. The marks weightage for this assessment is 15%.
2. Second graded assessment will be released on 28 January 2022 and will only be
available for attempt for 4 days. The submission will be due on 31 January 2022. The
marks weightage for this assessment is 35%.
3. The end semester assessment holds a weightage of 50% of the total marks.
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