Methodology Sessions

The goal of the methodology sessions is to expose students to different methods of crafting scholarly legal arguments, with a view to enriching the quality of their dissertations. Each seminar will be led by a distinguished member of the NYU School of Law faculty and attended by all Agora participants.

Defining Research Questions for a Doctorate and Matching them with Methodological Capacity

by Professor Joseph Weiler

June 21, 2010
2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

An inordinate number of doctoral dissertation projects become 'casualties' – either a failure to complete the doctorate or the completion of a dissertation which does not reflect the abilities of the student...

A Primer on Empirical Legal Scholarship

by Professor Stephen Choi

June 22, 2010
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

This session will provide a survey of empirical legal scholarship with a focus on providing students a template on how to engage in empirical research...

Comparative Law

by Professor Joseph Weiler

June 23, 2010
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Comparative Law or the comparative method feature frequently in dissertation projects...

Libertarianism in Law

by Professor Richard A. Epstein

June 24, 2010
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

My talk shall examine the foundations of libertarian theory. The purpose of this theory is in general to mark off regimes for individual choice within a system that provides for use of state power to protect those domains...

The Art of Writing & the Art of Having it Published

by Professor Mary Holland

June 25, 2010
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

At the J.S.D. level, nothing is more important than the art of writing and the art of getting it published. So this session will focus on just that...

Alternative approaches to international legal scholarship

by Professor Robert Howse

June 28, 2010
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

This session will provide a comparative and critical treatment of several of main methodologies or intellectual styles in international...

Law & Anthropology

by Professor Sally Merry

June 29, 2010
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

The core methodology of anthropological analysis, ethnography, offers a valuable way of understanding international law in practice...

Law & Political Science

by Professor John Ferejohn

June 30, 2010
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

I will give a lecture on applications of positive political theory to legal institutions and practices...

Interpretation and the Constitution

by Professor David Golove

July 1, 2010
11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

The subject of this session will be interpretive methodologies in constitutional law. In particular, we will focus on the special problem...