Introduction to scientific legal research
A practical and methodological instruction for doctoral students and young researchers |
23.03.13 |
Contribution to the Doctoral Studies Program, Semester 2, 2012/13; 13.03., 14.03., 15.03., 18.03., 19.03., 20.03., 21.03., 22.03.2013, 14:00 - 17:00, room B301A (building B) |
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Final note
In March 2013, after the end of the course, this website has been finished. It will stay available for the purpose of deepening and repetition. With best wishes for your doctoral study projcects, yours Prof. Dr. Thomas Schmitz
This course is an optional course within the Doctoral Studies Program of Hanoi Law University. The course is taught in English. It deals with the basic idea of scientific legal research and with the standards and requirements for a scientific thesis in the field of law, including formal standards such as the the scientific style of writing and the art of scientific quoting. It also addresses practical issues, steps and stages and strategies for a successful thesis project. In addition, the course provides an introduction to advanced methods and techniques of legal case-solving. It will enable interested participants to prepare their own cases and case solutions.
The course is open for all doctoral students and interested lecturers. The course will combine lectures and individual consultation.
The course will take place on the following days: Wednesday, 13th March (lectures), Thursday, 14th March (lectures), Friday, 15th March (lectures instead of originally planned individual consultation), Monday, 18th March (lectures), Tuesday, 19th March (lectures), Wednesday, 20th March (individual consultation), Thursday, 21st March (lectures), Friday, 22nd March (individual consultation). The individual consultation will take place in room B102.
Downloads (PDF files)
An older Version of the materials is also availale in German.
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Materials concerning § 1 of the course (see now the materials from this course in Semester 1, 2013/14) |
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Materials concerning § 2 of the course (see now the materials from this course in Semester 1, 2013/14) |
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Overview: Information on legal literature in the internet (see now the materials from this course in Semester 1, 2013/14) |
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Materials concerning § 3 of the course (see now the materials from this course in Semester 1, 2013/14) |
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Materials concerning § 4 of the course |
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Materials concerning § 5 of the course
(original materials
from a
course on practical case-solving in European law in 2010) |
Contents (summary/details)
§ 1 The doctoral thesis in legal science
What is a scientific thesis?
Why should I write a scientific thesis?
What are the costs and dangers of a thesis project?
§ 2 The steps and stages of a thesis project
Project planning and determination of the subject
Familiarization with the subject and the relevant law
Gathering and management of informations and materials
Thorough scientific reflection and outline of the thesis
Writing down of the thesis
Final review of the thesis
§ 3 Intellectual standards for a scientific thesis
Standards of intellectual authenticity and originality
Standards of intellectual accuracy, consistency and precision
Standards of intellectual thoroughness
§ 4 Formal standards for a scientific thesis
Introduction
The formal structure of the thesis
The scientific style of writing
The art of scientific quoting
The formatting of the scientific text
Other formal standards
§ 5 Annex: Introduction to legal case-solving
A scientific approach to legal case-solving
The main principles of legal case-solving
The analysis of the facts and question of the case
The drawing up of a draft outline
The systematic solving of the case on the basis of the draft outline
The writing down of the case-solution
The formal design of the case-solution
The final check
Exercises in solving cases and preparing own cases
[A. General introductions] [B. Introductions to scientific style] [C. Introductions to scientific legal research] [D. Practical guides for thesis project] [E. Practical guides on special aspects] [F. Introductions to legal case-solving]
Preliminary remark: Note that the approach to scientific legal research is different in countries with common law or continental law tradition. This does not only apply with regard to the methods and sources but also to the style of writing. Most books in English only present the common law approach while those in German or French present the continental approach.
A. General introductios to scientific research
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Balzert, Helmut von; Kern, Uwe; Schäfer, Christian; Schröder, Marion: Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten. Wissenschaft, Quellen, Artefakte, Organisation, Präsentation, 2nd edition 2011 |
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Dunleavy, Patrick: Authoring a PhD. How to Plan, Draft, Write and Finish a Doctoral Thesis or Dissertation, 2003 |
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Franck, Norbert: Handbuch Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten, 2nd edition 2007 |
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Franck, Norbert; Stary, Joachim: Die Technik wissenschaftlichen Arbeitens. Eine praktische Anleitung, 15th edition 2011 |
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(Nguyen) Bui , Yvonne: How to Write a Master's Thesis, 2009 |
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Oliver, Paul: Writing Your Thesis, 2nd edition 2008 |
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Theisen, Manuel: Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten. Technik - Methodik - Form, 15th edition 2009 |
B. Introductions to the scientific style of writing
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Bahrych, Lynn; Rombauer, Marjorie Dick: Legal Writing in a Nutshell, 4th edition 2009 |
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Davis, Martha; Davis, Kaaron Joann; Dunagan, Marion: Scientific Papers and Presentations: Navigating Scientific Communication in Today's World, 3rd edition 2012 [Kindle Edition] |
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Glasman-Deal, Hilary: Science Research Writing. A Guide for Non-Native Speakers of English, 2009 |
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Haft, Fritjof: Juristische Schreibschule. Anleitung zum strukturierten Schreiben, 2009 |
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Hofmann, Angelika: Scientific Writing and Communication. Papers, Proposals, and Presentations, 2009 |
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Jele, Harald: Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten: Zitieren, 3rd edition 2012 (on the art of scientific quoting) |
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Lehmann, Günter: Wissenschaftliche Arbeiten. Zielwirksam verfassen und präsentieren, 3rd edition 2011 |
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Peat, Jennifer; Elliott, Elizabeth; Baur, Louise; Keena, Victoria: Scientific Writing. Easy when you know how, 2002 |
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Pospiech, Ulrike: Duden-Ratgeber - Wie schreibt man wissenschaftliche Arbeiten?, 2012 |
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Vollmer, Hans: Die Doktorarbeit schreiben. Strukturebenen - Stilmittel - Textentwicklung, 2nd edition 2008 |
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Yang, Jen Tsi: An Outline of Scientific Writing. For Researchers with English as a Foreign Language, 1995 |
C. Introductions to scientific legal research
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Hoecke, Mark van (editor): Methodologies of Legal Research. Which Kind of Method for What Kind of Discipline?, 2011 (about alternative methods of legal research) |
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Holznagel, Bernd; Schumacher, Pascal; Ricke, Thorsten: Juristische Arbeitstechniken und Methoden. Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten für Juristen in Zeiten des Internets, 2012 |
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Jaillardon, Edith; Roussillon, Dominique: Outils pour la recherche juridique. Méthodologie de la thèse de doctorat et du mémoire de master en droit, 2007 |
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Kerschner, Ferdinand: Wissenschaftliche Arbeitstechnik und Methodenlehre für Juristen. Leitfaden für juristische Seminar-, Diplom-, Master- und Bakkalaureatsarbeiten, Dissertationen und wissenschaftliche Artikel, 5th edition 2006 |
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Lomio, Paul; Spang-Hanssen, Henrik; Wilson, George: Legal Research Methods in a Modern World, 3rd edition 2011 [tries to bridge the gap between the European and American approaches to legal research] |
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Möllers, Thomas: Juristische Arbeitstechnik und wissenschaftliches Arbeiten. Klausur, Hausarbeit, Seminar- und Studienarbeit, Staatsexamen, Dissertation, 6th edition 2012 |
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Putman, William: Legal Research, 2009 |
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Romi, Raphaël: Méthodologie de la recherche en droit: Master et doctorat, 2nd edition 2011 |
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Tettinger, Peter; Mann, Thomas: Einführung in die juristische Arbeitstechnik. Klausuren - Haus- und Seminararbeiten - Dissertationen, 4th edition 2009 |
See also the extensive literature on legal methodology.
D. Practical guides for a successful thesis project
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Beaud, Michel; Gravier, Magali;Toledo, Alain de: L'art de la thèse : Comment préparer et rédiger un mémoire de master, une thèse de doctorat ou tout autre travail universitaire à l'ère du Net, 2007 |
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Brauner, Detlef; Vollmer, Hans: Erfolgreiches wissenschaftliches Arbeiten. Seminararbeit - Diplomarbeit - Doktorarbeit, 3rd edition 2008 |
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Burton, Suzan; Steane, Peter (editors): Surviving your thesis, 2004 |
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Eco, Umberto: Wie man eine wissenschaftliche Abschlussarbeit schreibt. Doktor-, Diplom- und Magisterarbeit in den Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften, 13th edition 2010 |
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Finn, John A.: Getting a PhD: An action plan to help you manage your research, your supervisor and your project, 2007 |
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Glatthorn, Allan A.; Joyner, Randy L.; Rouse, William A.: Writing the Winning Thesis or Dissertation. A Step-by-Step-Guide, 3rd edition 2012 |
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Griffin, Mark C.: Writing the Thesis, updated 2007 |
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Knigge-Illner, Helga: Der Weg zum Doktortitel. Strategien für die erfolgreiche Promotion, 2nd edition 2009 |
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Mainguy, D.: Guide de la thèse (en droit), 2007 |
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Messing, Barbara; Huber, Klaus P: Die Doktorarbeit - Vom Start zum Ziel. Lei(d)tfaden für Promotionswillige, 4th edition 2007 |
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Münch, Ingo von: Promotion, 3rd edition 2006 |
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Nünning, Ansgar; Sommer, Roy (editors): Handbuch Promotion. Forschung - Förderung - Finanzierung, 2007 |
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Stock, Steffe; Schneider, Patricia; Peper, Elisabeth; Molitor, Eva (editors): Erfolgreich promovieren. Ein Ratgeber von Promovierten für Promovierende, 2nd edition 2009 |
E. Practical guides on special aspects
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Brauner, Detlef: Die Doktorarbeit veröffentlichen. Publikationsformen - Gestaltung - Vermarktung, 2013 [coming soon] |
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Hofman, Marci; Rumsey, Mary: International and foreign legal research, 2012 [on researching foreign and international law] |
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Jürgens, Kai: Wie veröffentliche ich meine Doktorarbeit? Der sichere Weg zum eigenen Buch, 2007 [e-book edition 2011] |
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Nicol, Natascha; Albrecht, Ralf: Wissenschaftliche Arbeiten schreiben mit Word 2010. Formvollendete und normgerechte Examens-, Diplom- und Doktorarbeiten, 7th edition 2012 |
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Sesink, Werner: Einführung in das wissenschaftliche Arbeiten. Inklusive E-Learning, Web-Recherche, digitale Präsentation u.a., 9th edition 2012 |
F. Introductions to the methods and techniques of legal case-solving
Note that there is no specific literature in English because practical legal case-solving in the way presented in this course is usually not an element of legal education in common law countries. The common theoretical "case studies" are different. Publications on moot courts, however, may be helpful too.
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Bringewat, Peter: Methodik der juristischen Fallbearbeitung. Mit Aufbau- und Prüfungsschemata aus dem Zivil-, Strafrecht und öffentlichen Recht, 2nd edition 2013 [coming soon] |
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Butzer, Hermann; Epping, Volker: Arbeitstechnik im öffentlichen Recht. Vom Sachverhalt zur Lösung. Methodik – Technik – Materialerschließung, 3rd edition 2005 |
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Muntjewerff, Antoinette: Learning Legal Case Solving with the Computer Program PROSA, 2000 (about a computer program developed in the nineties at the University of Amsterdam to facilitate legal case-solving) |
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Pense, Uwe: Methodik der Fallbearbeitung. Juristische Klausurtechnik für Studium und Examen, 2nd edition 2009 (methodological instructions with regard to case-solving examinations) |
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Schimmel, Roland: Juristische Klausuren und Hausarbeiten richtig formulieren: Methodik und Fallbearbeitung, 10th edition 2012 |
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Schwacke, Peter: Juristische Methodik. Mit Technik der Fallbearbeitung, 5th edition 2011 |
See also the many collections of practical cases and case solutions in the individual fields of law ("Fälle und Lösungen", "cas pratiques", "travaux dirigés", "casos prácticos" etc.).
A. Links concerning the general subject of the course
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John W. Chinneck (Ottawa), How to Organize your Thesis |
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Mark C. Griffin, Writing the Thesis |
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D. Mainguy, Guide de la thèse (en droit), 2007 |
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François Ost (Saint-Louis/Geneva), La thèse de doctorat en droit: du projet à la soutenance |
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Joe Wolfe (Sydney), How to write a PhD Thesis |
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Jens Peter Schneider (Freiburg), Leitfaden für eine Dissertation |
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School of Graduate Studies (Huntsville, USA), Thesis and Dissertation Manual |
B. Information on legal literature in the internet (concerning § 2 III)
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Online catalogues of legal literature for sale: amazon US (American literature), amazon Germany (German literature), amazon France (French literature), amazon UK (British literature), amazon China (Chinese literature), books.or.jp (literature in Japanese language), LGDJ (French legal literature), Verzeichnis lieferbarer Bücher (literature in German language or published in Germany, Austria, Switzerland) |
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Online catalogues and databases of libraries: Libraries in Hanoi: Library of Hanoi Law University, Library of Vietnamese National University Hanoi; National libraries: Thư viện quốc gia Việt Nam / National Library of Vietnam (Hanoi), Library of Congress (Washington), Deutsche Nationalbibliothek / German National Library (Berlin, Frankfurt, Leipzig), Bibliothèque nationale de France / National Library of France (Paris), British Library (London), National Diet Library (Tokyo, Kyoto), National Library of Korea (Seoul), National Library of China (Beijing), comprehensive lists of national libraries in Europe and national libraries in Southeast Asia; Law libraries with a focus on comparative and international law: Max Planck Institute for Comparative and International Private Law (Hamburg), Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law (Freiburg), Max Planck Institute for Comparative Public Law and International Law (Heidelberg), Max Planck Institute for Social Law and Social Policy (Munich), Max Planck Institute for European Legal History (Frankfurt); Catalogues of American law libraries |
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Metacatalogues (integrated search in various library catalogues): Karlsruhe Virtual Catalogue (integrated search in all important German, Austrian and Suisse catalogues and in the most important library catalogues throughout the world, Univ. of Karlsruhe); Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (search engine for online publications), Copac (merged British and Irish catalogues), SUDOC (merged French catalogues), Internet Culturale (merged Italian catalogues), Virtual Law Library (metacatalogue project of the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin) |
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Specialised databases: GlobaLex (database on International, Comparative and Foreign Law, NYU), EISIL (database on international law, ASIL), RAVE (database on jurisprudence and articles on public international law and European law 1998 - 2005, Univ. of Düsseldorf), European Integration Current Contents (comprehensive database on articles on European law, NYU School of Law), Leitsatzkartei des deutschen Rechts (commercial database on articles published in German law journals, edited by the publishing house C.H. Beck); CommonLII (database on law in common law countries); see also the references at the Virtual Law Library; see also the Foreign and International Law Research Guide (Library of Congress) |
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Computer software for literature management: EndNote, RefWorks, Book Collector, JabRef; Citavi, Librixx, Buchliebhaber, Bibliographix |
C. Other links concerning special subjects
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concerning § 3 I: scientific plagiarism in Germany and Europe: the Guttenberg case (reports by Time World/Spiegel Online, information by the University of Bayreuth ), the Schavan case (reports by Deutsche Welle/Science/Spiegel Online, press release of the University of Düsseldorf); the Koch-Mehrin case (reports by Spiegel Online/BBC/Deutsche Welle; fraud factories in Germany (report by Spiegel Online); the Hungarian President's case (report by BBC) |
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concerning § 3 I: fight against plagiarism: plagiarism.org; What is plagiarism? (Univ. Concordia/Univ. of North Carolina); Good academic practice in the context of theses submitted for a degree (Deutscher Hochschulverband/Allgemeiner Fakultätentag/Fakultätentag); Empfehlungen zur wissenschaftlichen Redlichkeit bei der Erstellung rechtswissenschaftlicher Texte [Recommendations on scientific integrity in the preparation of texts in legal science] (Deutscher Juristischer Fakultätentag) |
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concerning § 4: Formal Guidelines for Scientific Theses (Univ. of Bern); Thesis Guidelines (Central European Univ., Budapest); Principles of Scientific Writing (SCITEXT Cambridge); Tips for Academic Writing and Other Formal Writing (James Bednar) |
