Journal of Empirical Legal Studies

Scope & Guideline

Advancing Legal Knowledge Through Empirical Insights

Introduction

Immerse yourself in the scholarly insights of Journal of Empirical Legal Studies with our comprehensive guidelines detailing its aims and scope. This page is your resource for understanding the journal's thematic priorities. Stay abreast of trending topics currently drawing significant attention and explore declining topics for a full picture of evolving interests. Our selection of highly cited topics and recent high-impact papers is curated within these guidelines to enhance your research impact.
LanguageEnglish
ISSN1740-1453
PublisherWILEY
Support Open AccessNo
CountryUnited Kingdom
TypeJournal
Convergefrom 2011 to 2024
AbbreviationJ EMPIR LEGAL STUD / J. Empir Leg. Stud
Frequency4 issues/year
Time To First Decision-
Time To Acceptance-
Acceptance Rate-
Home Page-
Address111 RIVER ST, HOBOKEN 07030-5774, NJ

Aims and Scopes

The Journal of Empirical Legal Studies aims to foster a deeper understanding of the intersection between law and empirical research. The journal emphasizes the importance of using empirical methodologies to analyze legal issues, thereby contributing to the development of evidence-based legal practices and policies.
  1. Empirical Analysis of Legal Practices:
    The journal publishes research that employs quantitative and qualitative empirical methods to examine various legal practices, enhancing the understanding of how laws function in real-world contexts.
  2. Interdisciplinary Approaches:
    The journal encourages interdisciplinary research that integrates insights from fields such as sociology, psychology, economics, and political science to enrich legal studies.
  3. Impact Assessment of Legal Reforms:
    Research focusing on the consequences of legal reforms and policies is a core area, providing evidence on their effectiveness and informing future legislative changes.
  4. Diversity and Inclusion in Law:
    The journal places emphasis on studies that explore issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion within legal frameworks, including the experiences of marginalized groups in legal systems.
  5. Behavioral Insights in Legal Decision-Making:
    A significant focus is on understanding how behavioral economics and psychology influence legal decision-making processes among judges, juries, and legal practitioners.
The Journal of Empirical Legal Studies has seen a rise in the exploration of several innovative and relevant themes in recent years. These emerging areas reflect contemporary societal issues and the evolving legal landscape.
  1. Impact of Technology on Law:
    Research examining the implications of technology, such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the use of artificial intelligence in legal contexts, is increasingly prevalent, highlighting the need for legal frameworks to adapt to technological advancements.
  2. Racial and Gender Bias in Legal Systems:
    There is a growing focus on empirical studies that analyze the impacts of racial and gender biases in legal processes, including jury selection and sentencing, which is crucial for informing reforms aimed at achieving equity in the justice system.
  3. Public Health and Legal Responses:
    Recent publications have increasingly addressed the intersection of public health and law, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, underscoring the importance of empirical research in shaping public health policies.
  4. Behavioral Economics in Legal Decision-Making:
    Emerging themes include the application of behavioral economics to understand decision-making in legal contexts, providing insights into how cognitive biases affect legal outcomes.
  5. Legal Education Reform and Effectiveness:
    There is a rising interest in assessing the effectiveness of legal education reforms, with studies focused on class participation, diversity, and the preparedness of law graduates for practice, reflecting ongoing changes in legal education.

Declining or Waning

While the Journal of Empirical Legal Studies has consistently explored a wide range of legal issues, certain themes have shown a decline in prominence in recent publications. This may reflect shifts in research priorities or changes in the legal landscape.
  1. Historical Legal Analysis:
    There has been a noticeable decrease in papers focusing on historical legal analysis, as the journal has shifted towards more contemporary empirical research that addresses current legal challenges.
  2. Theoretical Legal Frameworks:
    Research centered solely on theoretical legal frameworks without empirical backing appears to be waning, indicating a strong preference for studies that combine theory with empirical data.
  3. Strict Legal Doctrinal Studies:
    There is a decreasing trend in strictly doctrinal legal studies, which may suggest a growing recognition of the need for empirical evidence to support or critique legal doctrines.
  4. Traditional Legal Education Analysis:
    While legal education remains important, papers focusing on traditional critiques of legal education without empirical evaluation are becoming less frequent, as the journal favors evidence-based assessments.
  5. Narrow Jurisdictional Studies:
    The journal has moved away from studies that focus on narrow jurisdictional issues without broader implications, favoring research that offers wider applicability or insights across different legal systems.

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