Course Overview

The Certificate Course on Advanced Legal Research Methodology (ALRM) is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills required to design and conduct independent, rigorous legal research. The course is particularly suited for those pursuing postgraduate studies, preparing dissertations or theses, and aiming for academic publication with strong scholarly impact. In addition to academic excellence, ALRM develops advanced research competencies that are highly valued in professional settings, including policy think tanks, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), the judiciary, law firms, and international organizations. Beyond academia and professional practice, the course emphasizes social impact by training participants to integrate doctrinal legal analysis with empirical and interdisciplinary approaches, thereby contributing to evidence-based policymaking and justice-oriented legal reform.

 

Pedagogy:

This ALRM course uses a learner-centered, practice-driven instructional approach that skillfully combines theory sessions with application. The course is planned to make sure that participants not only understand the Advanced Legal Research Methodology, but also gain the ability to apply the skills successfully in practical situations, particularly in light of Bangladesh's socio-legal realities. 

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Objectives:

 The course seeks to equip participants with the following knowledge and skills:

 

• To equip participants with advanced knowledge and skills in legal research design, methodology, and presentation. 

• To develop the ability to critically evaluate legal sources and apply doctrinal, non-doctrinal, and interdisciplinary approaches. 

• To train participants in Doctrinal & Non-doctrinal research methods and the use of digital and technological tools. 

• To instill awareness of research ethics, validity, and reliability, ensuring rigor and integrity. 

• To produce and present a logical, research-driven analysis of legal issues that enhances the comprehension, interpretation, and progressive development of the law.

• To guide participants in presenting and publishing research proposals, preparing them for academic and professional careers.​​

 

Target Audience:

• Law Students (last year undergraduate student with prior research experience and postgraduate) aiming to strengthen research skills,

• Early-Career Legal Professionals seeking to enhance their analytical and publication capacity,

• Academics & Researchers in law and allied disciplines interested in interdisciplinary or empirical legal studies,

• Policy Analysts, NGO Researchers, and Civil Society Professionals who require strong legal research foundations for advocacy and reform initiatives.

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Course Structure

This is a 7-day certificate course comprises 11 comprehensive sessions designed to equip participants with advanced legal research skills. The programme covers doctrinal, non-doctrinal, qualitative, historical, and interdisciplinary research approach, alongside academic writing, academic research ethics, digital research tools, and publication strategies. Led by experienced academics and legal researchers, the course provides practical knowledge and contemporary research skills essential for producing high-quality legal scholarship.

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Key Information: 

• Class Time: 6:00 to 7:30 PM and 8:00 to 9:30 PM (30 Minutes Break)

• Delivery Mode: Online (Zoom)

• Course Date: 8 August –  14 August 2026

Sessions Overview:

Session 1: Understanding Advanced Legal Research and Contemporary Trends

Session 2: Ethics and Academic Integrity in Research

Session 3: Digital Tools, Citation Management and Databases for Legal Research

Session 4: Legal Reasoning and Critical Thinking

Session 5: Conducting Effective Literature Reviews and Identifying Research Gaps

Session 6: Developing Conceptual and Theoretical Framework

Session 7: (i) Doctrinal Legal Research: Theory and Application (ii) Non-Doctrinal and Qualitative Legal Research Methods

Session 8: Interdisciplinary Approaches in Legal Research

Session 9: Research Methods in Constitutional Law

Session 10: Writing for Different Audiences: Journal Articles, Book and Reports

Session 11: Editor's Insights: Things to Consider Before Publishing a Paper

 

Participants will be evaluated based on the following components:​

• Attendance and Active Participation in Sessions- 25%

• Engagement in Group Discussions or Peer Activities - 20%

• Final Assessment- 55%

• Total= 100%

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Outstanding Performance Recognition: Participants doing all the parts and demonstrating exceptional performance in research design, presentation, and overall engagement will receive a ‘Certificate of Best Participant.’

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Requirements for Certification Completion:

To be eligible for a course completion certificate, participants must fulfill the following criteria:

• Minimum 80% attendance mandatory

• Actively taken part in the classes/activities/assignments/ and final assessment

 

Learning Outcomes:

• Upon successful completion of the course, participants will be able to: 

• Understand and critically engage with advanced legal research paradigms and contemporary approaches to legal scholarship. 

• Conduct systematic and comprehensive literature reviews to identify research gaps and emerging debates. 

• Formulate clear research questions, objectives, and theoretical or conceptual frameworks for legal research projects. 

• Apply comparative, historical, and interdisciplinary approaches in legal analysis and scholarship.

• Select and justify appropriate doctrinal and non-doctrinal research methodologies based on specific research objectives. 

• Utilize relevant legal research tools, databases effectively. 

• Demonstrate an understanding of research ethics, academic integrity, and standards of validity and reliability in legal research. 

• Strengthen legal reasoning, analytical thinking, and critical evaluation skills. 

• Develop clear, persuasive, and academically rigorous legal writing. 

• Design and present a research proposal suitable for academic, policy, or professional research purposes.  Limited ​

 

Limited Seats Available:

Only 25 participants will be admitted to each batch to facilitate meaningful discussion and learning. 

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Course Fees:

Individuals: All individual participants are required to pay a course fee of 8,000 BDT for the course.

Discount:

•  For former Members of MOJ:  interns, volunteers, research assistants, and team members of Map of Justice are eligible for a 20% discount on the course fee.

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• For Groups: We are offering group discounts for our participants:

       - For a group of three participants – 6,000 BDT each group member

       - For a group of five participants - 5,500 BDT each group member

 

provided all group members are admitted to the course together. In order to avail the group discounts, a contact person from the group is first urged to email us with the following details at mapofjustice@gmail.com: 1. How many members in the Group application; 2. Name of all the members; 3. Email addresses of all the members. The contact person will then be sent a Group Code. The group members shall then proceed as per the regular procedure in filling up the application and use the Group Code therein.​

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