Doctrinal And Non-Doctrinal Legal Research: An Overview

Human beings possess an innate curiosity when confronted with the unknown elements of existence, endeavoring to attain a more profound comprehension of such uncertainties. This curiosity forms the basis for the quest for knowledge, commonly known as research. It signifies a systematic exploration of new facts across diverse fields of inquiry. Legal research transcends simple information gathering; it enriches legal understanding through continuous updates, alterations, and new introductions. It investigates the relationship between law and society, incorporating codes, statutes, and more. As a scientific pursuit, legal research entails discovering new facts, confirming existing ones, analyzing trends, examining interconnections, offering causal explanations, and developing methodologies. Traditionally, legal research has concentrated on the development and clarification of legal doctrines and the normative aims of the law. Furthermore, it seeks to establish propositions concerning the essence of law. This emphasis is crucial, as the legal research process is intrinsically connected to the fundamental nature of legal studies and the law itself. This research paper provides an overview of the principles of legal research, socio-legal studies, a conceptual framework for both doctrinal and non-doctrinal legal research, the procedures involved in doctrinal studies, and the limitations and distinctions between doctrinal and non-doctrinal legal research methodologies.