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University of Oxford Centre for Socio-Legal Studies

Methodological Musings

A photograph of paintbrushes with lots of colourful paint

Stories that Refugee Artworks Tell: Using the ‘Visual’ in Socio-Legal Research

In this post for Methodological Musings, Berfin Nur Osso reflects on art as method and the importance of the visual turn, drawing upon her own experiences using art in different empirical projects.

by Berfin Nur Osso | 8 June 2022
A photograph of someone walking

Movement as Socio-Legal Method

In this post for Methodological Musings, Dr Jess Smith explores movement as Socio-Legal method, drawing upon her rich field experiences journeying through the Beaney House of Art & Knowledge.

by Jessica Smith | 11 May 2022
A photo of different laptops on a table for collaborative working

Not Just for Nerds: Web-scraping as a Socio-Legal Research Tool

In this post for Methodological Musings, Dr Jed Meers reflects on his experiences using web-scraping as method, and makes the case that it is an enriching Socio-Legal research tool.

by Jed Meers | 13 April 2022
A photo of some spades in soil

We Should all Get our Hands Dirty: Reflections on Why Lawyers Should Become Archaeologists

In this post, Emma Nottingham reflects on legal archaeology as method, drawing upon her own work digging into legal cases and the methodological challenges and insights she encountered.

by Emma Nottingham | 2 March 2022
A photo of Baroness Hale in the Miller 2 judgement at the UKSC

‘Just Looking’: Methodological Challenges Researching the Visual Culture of Law

In this post, Professor Leslie Moran reflects on the methodological challenges of looking within Socio-Legal Research, drawing upon his experience working on videos produced by the UK Supreme Court.

by Leslie J Moran | 9 February 2022
A photo of a person using a laptop by Sergey Zolkin, downloaded under Unsplash License from Unsplash.com

Participant observation, internet ethnography and the lurking researcher

In this post, Francesca Uberti reflects on the meaning of participant observation, drawing upon her fieldwork carrying out internet ethnography and her experience of being the 'lurking researcher'.

by Francesca Uberti | 12 January 2022
A photograph of the focus group set up, taken by Professor Linda Mulcahy and Dr Anna Tsalapatanis during their fieldwork

Putting us in our Place: Recognising the Parasitic Tendencies of the Socio-Legal Researcher

In this post, Professor Linda Mulcahy and Dr Anna Tsalapatanis reflect on the challenges of running focus groups with foodbank users and consider the parasitic nature of Socio-Legal research.

by Linda Mulcahy & Anna Tsalapatanis | 15 December 2021
A photograph of a clerk working despite electricity shortages in Lebanon

Fieldwork in Times of Crisis: Notes from Lebanon

In this post, DPhil student Lama Karamé considers the challenges of completing fieldwork in times of crisis, reflecting upon her current empirical work within Lebanon.

by Lama Karamé | 17 November 2021
A photograph of stairs

Insider or Outsider Within?

In this post, Dr Marie Burton reflects on navigating insider and outsider statuses, drawing upon her own experiences within the field and the academy.

by Marie Burton | 20 October 2021
A photo of wooden letters cut out

What can Python Know? Lessons from the (Digital) Field

In this post, Mónica Arango Olaya reflects on the use of software programmes such as Python within Socio-Legal projects. She asks what Python can really know when it comes to qualitative research.

by Mónica Arango Olaya | 15 September 2021
A photograph of the mediator Xhombo, taken by Professor Pirie during fieldwork

An Anthropologist Among the Texts

In this post, Professor Fernanda Pirie discusses how, for the most part, legal anthropologists have avoided texts. She goes on to argue why legal texts should be taken seriously as social objects.

by Fernanda Pirie | 18 August 2021
A photo of a man sitting with electricity wires, taken by Dr Stremlau during her fieldwork

From Politics to Pandemics: Fieldwork Interrupted

Dr Nicole Stremlau reflects on interruptions to fieldwork, exploring the challenges of conducting research in contexts of conflict and carrying out empirical work during the current global pandemic.

by Nicole Stremlau | 21 July 2021