Legal Research Methodology: Major Stages in Legal Research

Lawyers earn their living by solving real problems in the society mainly through 
researching and writing. In conducting legal research, contrary to the popular belief, 
lawyers follow the scientific method. They identify a research problem; formulate 
research questions; review existing literature with the aim of applying the principles of 
law discovered in cases and statutes to the facts of the present case; summarize the 
findings, draw conclusions and suggest (or take) appropriate action based on the findings. 
This underscores the crucial place that research occupies in legal practice. The aim of 
this paper is to examine the major stages in legal research. It examines the essential 
features of scientific research and applies them to the process of legal research. It 
identifies the major stages in legal research and discusses them with practical examples 
based on the NALT Guide. It posits that the end product of legal research is the research 
report. It suggests that there is need for the training of lawyers to conduct empirical 
research to enrich the range of research methodologies that can be utilized in legal 
research.