LAW503 Research Methods for Legal Studies
LAW503 Research Methods for Legal Studies
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Feb 02, 2026
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Faculty of Law
Mirza Ljubović
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
The aim of this course is to provide students with wider theoretical understanding of the research process, and to develope ability for differentiation of specific methods in legal reasearch. After completing this course students will be able to preform theoretical and emphirical researches and to preform different data analysis.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
1. Research Methodology, Methods and Technique, 2nd Edition, C.R. Kothari, (2004), selected chapters 2. "Methodology of Legal Research: Challenges and Opportunities", Utrecht Law Review, Langbroek, P. Et al., (2017), p. 1-8. 3. "Legal Doctrine: Which Method(s) for What Kind of Discipline?" in Methodologies of Legal Research, European Academy of Legal Theory Series: Volume 9., Hoecke, M. (2011), p. 1-17.
Additional Literature
1. "On Empirical Legal Science", Sandgren, C., Stockholm Institute for Scandinavian Law, p.445-480. Additional materials provided by the lecturer (MPL).Teaching Methods
Class discussions with examples
Active sessions for engaged learning and continuous feedback on progress
Individual assigments
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction. | Presentation of syllabus and teaching material |
| 2 | What is research? Types of Research. Subjects of research. Research and Scientifict Method | Kothari, 1-24 |
| 3 | Legal research and its challenges. Importance of Legal Research. | Langbroek, P. Et. Al., p.1-8 |
| 4 | Theory vs. Empiria | Sandgren, C., p. 445-480 Hoecke, 1-13 |
| 5 | Stages of legal research: Defining the research problem. | Kothari, 24-31 |
| 6 | Stages of legal research: Review of the literature. Research Design. | Kothari, 31-55 |
| 7 | Stages of legal Research: Formulation of Hypothesis | Kothari, 187-218 Hoecke, 13-17 |
| 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |
| 9 | Stages of legal research: collection of data - methods 1 | Kothari 95-106 |
| 10 | Stages of legal research: collection of data - methods 2 | Kothari, 106-122; MPL |
| 11 | Stages of legal research: sampling | Kothari, 55-69 |
| 12 | Stages of legal research: data analysis and interpretation. - Student's institutional visit | Kothari122-132; 344-345 |
| 13 | References writting - Scientific seminar paper | MPL |
| 14 | Ethics in legal research. - Homework | MPL |
| 15 | Review. | All materials up to 15 weeks |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAW503.1 | Course | Wednesday 17:00 - 19:50 | B F2.4 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 13:00 - 15:00 | A F2.22 | |
| Tuesday | 13:00 - 15:00 | A F2.22 | |
| Wednesday | 15:00 - 16:00 | A F2.22 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
Scientific seminar paper
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3
Homework
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture hours
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Assignment
30 hours ⏳ (2 week × 15 h)
Home study
24 hours ⏳ (2 week × 12 h)
In term exam study
21 hours ⏳ (1 week × 21 h)
Final exam study
30 hours ⏳ (1 week × 30 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [LAW503] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Feb 02, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| LAW503 | Research Methods for Legal Studies | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Mirza Ljubović | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 13:00-15:00 Tuesday: 13:00-15:00 Wednesday: 15:00-16:00 |
|||||||
| mljubovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | The aim of this course is to provide students with wider theoretical understanding of the research process, and to develope ability for differentiation of specific methods in legal reasearch. After completing this course students will be able to preform theoretical and emphirical researches and to preform different data analysis. | |||||||||
| Textbook | 1. Research Methodology, Methods and Technique, 2nd Edition, C.R. Kothari, (2004), selected chapters 2. "Methodology of Legal Research: Challenges and Opportunities", Utrecht Law Review, Langbroek, P. Et al., (2017), p. 1-8. 3. "Legal Doctrine: Which Method(s) for What Kind of Discipline?" in Methodologies of Legal Research, European Academy of Legal Theory Series: Volume 9., Hoecke, M. (2011), p. 1-17. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Class discussions with examples. Active sessions for engaged learning and continuous feedback on progress. Individual assigments. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction. | Presentation of syllabus and teaching material | ||||||||
| Week 2 | What is research? Types of Research. Subjects of research. Research and Scientifict Method | Kothari, 1-24 | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Legal research and its challenges. Importance of Legal Research. | Langbroek, P. Et. Al., p.1-8 | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Theory vs. Empiria | Sandgren, C., p. 445-480 Hoecke, 1-13 | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Stages of legal research: Defining the research problem. | Kothari, 24-31 | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Stages of legal research: Review of the literature. Research Design. | Kothari, 31-55 | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Stages of legal Research: Formulation of Hypothesis | Kothari, 187-218 Hoecke, 13-17 | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MIDTERM EXAM | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Stages of legal research: collection of data - methods 1 | Kothari 95-106 | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Stages of legal research: collection of data - methods 2 | Kothari, 106-122; MPL | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Stages of legal research: sampling | Kothari, 55-69 | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Stages of legal research: data analysis and interpretation. - Student's institutional visit | Kothari122-132; 344-345 | ||||||||
| Week 13 | References writting - Scientific seminar paper | MPL | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Ethics in legal research. - Homework | MPL | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Review. | All materials up to 15 weeks | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Scientific seminar paper | 1 | 10 | 2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Homework | 1 | 10 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Assignment | 15 | 2 | 30 | |||
| Home study | 12 | 2 | 24 | In term exam study | 21 | 1 | 21 | |||
| Final exam study | 30 | 1 | 30 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 20/02/2026 | |||||||||