The research focus area ‘Law and empirical research’ is an open invitation for researchers at Leiden Law School and Leiden University to contribute to methodological innovation, to apply existing empirical methods in new fields, and to jointly advance impactful empirical legal scholarship.

Building on the Law Sector Plan ELS

This research focus area builds on the theme Empirical Legal Studies (ELS), part of the National Law Sector Plan, funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science. Through that work, Leiden University has established itself as a national leader in the field. The research focus area ‘Law and empirical research’ aims to take the success of ELS to the next level by expanding empirical approaches to law across all institutes at Leiden Law School, as well as involving scholars working at other faculties that empirically study law.

Diverse research environment

This research focus area will work to integrate and strengthen connections between empirical and sociolegal approaches to law, fostering a more methodologically diverse research environment at Leiden Law School. It will support empirical legal analysis, advance innovative methodological approaches, and promote the use of empirical perspectives across legal scholarship. In doing so, it will provide a dedicated platform to facilitate collaboration, build bridges across research areas, and foster methodological exchange throughout Leiden Law School.

Advancing expertise & new initiatives

'Law and empirical research' will serve as both a starting point for those new to empirical methods and a hub for advancing expertise. It will: enhance existing resources such as the Leiden Law Methods Portal; connect researchers to the expertise and support they need to develop empirical projects; highlight substantive areas of empirical investigation across Leiden Law School and open new opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration; strengthen training for PhDs and other staff members on empirical approaches to law and develop new training on innovative approaches, including participatory, visual, and digital empirical methods.

Bottom-up

The research focus area aims to stimulate bottom-up initiatives across Leiden Law School. This could include activities or projects jointly initiated or developed by researchers from different departments and institutes, in which they link innovative empirical methods to a wide range of legal questions. The research focus area could also, for instance, establish a dedicated helpdesk and matching service to support scholars in incorporating empirical approaches and methods into their research. Ultimately, the research focus area ‘Law and empirical research’ will strengthen Leiden Law School’s research profile and its position as a leader in empirical legal research.

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