Taxmann's Legal Research Methodology – Comprehensive Textbook that Blends Doctrinal | Socio-legal | Empirical Methods with Practical Skills & Ethics to Equip Readers for Legal Research
About this ebook
This book is intended for the following audience:
• LL.B./B.A.LL.B. & LL.M. Students learning research methodology, project writing, or dissertations
• Faculty & Researchers seeking a structured, step-by-step approach (with chapter-end Summaries to reinforce learning)
• Practitioners, Policy Researchers & Judges' Law Clerks who need fast, precise strategies for finding, evaluating, and applying authorities; and for undertaking socio-legal/empirical studies
• Interdisciplinary Scholars engaging law with sociology, economics, public policy, or technology
The Present Publication is the Latest Edition, authored by Prof. (Dr) Shipra Gupta & Dr Neelam Batra, with the following noteworthy features:
• [Complete Methodological Coverage] The text explains methodology as a framework linking paradigm, research design, and approach, and contrasts doctrinal with non-doctrinal (socio-legal) methods
• [Practical & End-to-end] Guidance spans problem identification, questions/hypotheses, design, sampling, data collection, analysis, and report writing, with chapter-end summaries that reinforce learning
• [Legal Reasoning] A dedicated chapter covers inductive and deductive reasoning, fallacies, and legal syllogisms
• [Tools for Modern Research] Curated open and commercial e-resources (e.g., India Code, PRS, Indian Kanoon, etc.) are catalogued to aid authoritative, up-to-date work
• [Ethics & Integrity] A whole chapter addresses research ethics, plagiarism vs. copyright infringement, predatory publishing, and journal-selection checklists
• [Endorsed by Justice Augustine George Masih | Supreme Court of India] He highlights the book's role in bridging academic rigour with practical application in courts and policy-making
The coverage of the book is as follows:
• Chapter 1 – Introduction to Legal Research
o Explains the meaning, scope and significance of legal research for practitioners and academics
o Outlines the role of legal research in law reform (Law Commission reports, Constituent Assembly debates, committees and judicial legislation)
o Distinguishes primary and secondary authorities and surveys electronic/online resources
• Chapter 2 – Legal Research Methodology
o Defines 'method' and 'methodology,' and sets out the components of methodology—paradigm, research design and approach
o Maps the broad categories of legal research methodologies
• Chapter 3 – Socio-Legal Research (SLR)
o Presents SLR as an interdisciplinary inquiry with theoretical and empirical dimensions and notes typical field challenges
• Chapter 4 – Methods of Reasoning
o Covers argument construction, fallacies, inductive and deductive reasoning, and the contours of legal reasoning
• Chapter 5 – Review of Literature
o Details sources and tools for judicial/legislative and secondary materials, evaluation standards and organisation strategies for literature reviews
• Chapter 6 – Identification & Formulation of Problem:
o Provides staged guidance on framing titles and formulating researchable problems
• Chapters 7/8 – Variables; Research Questions & Hypotheses
o Explains variable types and operationalisation, and sets criteria and typologies for questions and hypotheses
• Chapter 9 – Research Design
o Reviews exploratory, descriptive, explanatory, experimental and correlational designs, and explains time-dimension choices (cross-sectional vs. longitudinal)
• Chapter 10 – Sampling
o Sets fundamental rules for sampling and distinguishes probability from non-probability techniques with methods and examples
• Chapter 11 – Data Collection Techniques & Tools
o Covers questionnaires, interviews and observation, including practical and ethical considerations for fieldwork
• Chapter 12 – Research Ethics & Academic Integrity
o Summarises ethical principles, plagiarism vs. copyright infringement, and red flags for predatory journals with regulatory context (e.g., UGC norms)
• Chapter 13 – Data Analysis & Report Writing
o Brings qualitative and quantitative analysis together with guidance on structuring and presenting a legal research report
The structure of the book is as follows:
• Chapters progress in a logical sequence from foundations (concept, sources and tools) to methodology and design, then to sampling, data-collection methods, ethics and reporting
• Each chapter closes with a succinct 'Summary,' enabling quick revision and classroom use
About the author
Prof. (Dr) Shipra Gupta is a Professor at the Department of Laws, Panjab University, Chandigarh, where she has been a faculty member for over two decades. She embarked on her legal journey in 1993 as a student at the same institution, eventually rising to the rank of Professor at her alma mater.
Her areas of academic specialisation include Legal Research Methodology, Commercial Law, and Constitutional Law. Her research interests are deeply rooted in gender justice and human rights, with a particular focus on issues concerning marginalised communities.
Prof. Gupta is the author of Gender Inequality Illustrated Through a Legal Perspective on Female Foeticide. This widely referenced work reflects her commitment to addressing pressing social concerns through a legal lens. A dedicated educator, researcher, and author, she exemplifies lifelong learning, combining analytical depth with a research-driven approach.
Through her scholarship, she consistently seeks to make legal research more relevant, accessible, and socially impactful, thereby making meaningful contributions to both academic discourse and the advancement of justice.
Dr Neelam Batra is a distinguished legal academic with extensive experience in teaching, research, and scholarly writing. She currently serves as a faculty member at the University Institute of Laws, Panjab University Regional Centre, Ludhiana.
Her academic career is defined by a deep engagement with diverse areas of law, including Contract Law, Family Law, Criminal Law, Laws Relating to Women and Children, and Legal Research Methodology. She has authored and co-authored numerous scholarly works, making significant contributions to the advancement of legal education and discourse.
Dr Batra is deeply committed to enhancing the quality of legal education by fostering clarity, critical thinking, and practical insight in both teaching and research. Her work reflects a firm conviction in the transformative power of legal research to inform policy-making and drive meaningful legal reform.
Passionate about making complex legal concepts accessible, she dedicates her efforts to simplifying the discipline for students, researchers, and practitioners alike. This book stands as a testament to her endeavour to bridge academic scholarship with practical legal understanding.
