Introduction

This introduction presents an over view of key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on the experiences of supervising PhD candidates and from being involved in the design and delivery of training sessions for postgraduate research students. It overviews some of the many methods that constitute legal research; so as to assist postgraduate research students and early career researchers in gaining not only an understanding of each of the methods discussed, but, more importantly, to gain an understanding of the inter-relationship between these methods and the advantages and disadvantages of relying on one method in preference to another, or on a particular combination of methods, in the pursuit of any given research question. The terms 'method' and 'methodology' are used frequently in the context of legal research. Sanchez-Graells concedes that doctrinal legal research has a place in ensuring that researchers' analyses 'are technically sound from a legal perspective'.