How can we use qualitative methods to study complex legal issues? What are the theoretical and practical challenges of applying qualitative methods in legal contexts? How can we bridge the gap between law and social sciences using qualitative approaches?

These are some of the questions that this workshop aims to address. The workshop will bring together scholars and practitioners who are interested in exploring the diverse and rich realm of qualitative methods in legal studies. The workshop will cover various aspects of qualitative research, such as the development of theoretical frameworks, the choice and application of methodological approaches, and the analysis and interpretation of legal phenomena.

The workshop welcomes submissions from different disciplines and perspectives, as long as they focus on the use of qualitative methods in legal research. We invite contributions that reflect on any stage of the research process, from the formulation of research questions, to the collection and analysis of data, to the presentation and dissemination of findings. We also encourage submissions that discuss the ethical, epistemological, and practical implications of qualitative research in legal settings.

The workshop aims to foster a constructive and interdisciplinary dialogue among researchers who share a common interest in qualitative methods and legal studies. The workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to present their work, receive feedback, and exchange ideas with peers and experts in the field.

The workshop is open to submissions on any topic related to qualitative methods and legal studies, including, but not limited to, the following areas of interest:

Qualitative approaches and theories in legal contexts
Social construction of law
Qualitative approach to social ontology
Relationship between law and culture
Ethnographic approaches to studying legal phenomena
Application of qualitative methods in legal research
Ethical considerations, challenges and dilemmas in qualitative research
Reflexive turn in qualitative research
Qualitative legal research vs. armchair jurisprudence
Qualitative vs. quantitative – true or false dichotomy
Qualitative character of legal methodology
Qualitative methods in experimental legal philosophy
Qualitative perspectives on legal institutions, practices, and policies
Epistemology behind qualitative legal studies
Role of AI in qualitative legal research
Limitations of qualitative legal research

Abstracts (ca. 500 words) and authors' CVs should be sent to maciej.juzaszek@uwr.edu.pl by April 25, 2024. Admission decisions will be sent on a rolling basis, the last by April 28th 2024. Please note that all accepted presenters must register as Congress participants (the regular registration ends on April 30th 2024) at https://ivr2024.org/sub.php?menu_number=526.

The workshop is part of the research project ‘The impact of legal and institutional conditions on the educational experience of doctoral candidates in law’ (no.2021/41/B/HS5/04468) funded by the Polish National Science Centre and carried out in the Centre for Legal Education and Social Theory, University of Wroclaw, Poland.