Researching Public Law in Common Law Systems

This original book fills a significant gap in legal literature by providing an exploration of research methodologies in public law, a field of research in which research methods are becoming increasingly prominent and sophisticated. Featuring thoughtful chapters written by leading scholars in the field, this book provides a thorough explanation of the key features, characteristics, and challenges of distinct methodological approaches to public law research. Divided into four broad categories; traditional, institutional, technical and critical, chapters cover a wide range of approaches, from doctrinal and interpretive methods to empirical, socio-legal, and Marxist approaches. The book promotes critical reflection on many of the most common methodological approaches and aims to demystify research methodologies in public law for new scholars and interdisciplinary researchers alike. Researching Public Law in Common Law Systems will be essential reading for academics and students in public law, suitable for advanced scholars and those who are new to the field. It will also be relevant to those with an interest in empirical methods, legal methods, and research methodologies more broadly in the social sciences.