Who we are and what we do

The study of law in society:
This means studying law as an integral part of societies. We explore legal practices, legal forms, and legal texts in order to understand societies as much as exploring social contexts in order to understand law.

Empirically-grounded research which is theoretically informed:
Most of our research is qualitative, although it may be supplemented by quantitative methods. Researchers draw on a wide range of methods in order to address new questions and develop theories grounded in empirical data.

New frontiers:
Much of our research is exploratory. We support ideas, projects, and questions pursued by researchers from very different backgrounds and disciplines, many of whom draw on personal experiences and react to global developments. The topics, geographical remit, and disciplinary approaches of our researchers are very varied, but they come together to develop common themes: social regulation, human rights and social justice; digital technologies; law beyond the state; and access to justice.

Collaborative and engaged:
We regularly interact with other socio-legal researchers and research centres around the world; with researchers from different disciplines and institutions; and with policy-makers and legal practitioners. We also publish widely in a variety of formats and journals.