W-2: Conducting Empirical Legal Research

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Saturday, July 25 - 8:30am - 5:00pm
(8:00 a.m. check-in)
Location: 
American University Washington College of Law
Target Audience: 
Librarians interested in learning about empirical research
Learning Outcomes: 
1) Participants will be able to describe what empirical research is and the resources and methods used by faculty, lawyers and students.
2) Participants will learn how to use statistical software to run basic, descriptive statistics (e.g., means, standard deviations) and where to locate analyzable databases that meet the needs of their faculty, lawyers and students.

Empirical legal research uses data analysis grounded in social science to study the law and its impact on society. In recent years, empirical legal studies have rapidly emerged as an essential component of legal research and scholarship. Law librarians can be instrumental in helping empirical legal researchers with this type of scholarship, but it often involves understanding the complexities of data sets and data manipulation.

The goal of this workshop is to provide practical, hands-on knowledge to law librarians who are trying to assist with the research process for empirical legal studies. Though of particular interest to academic law librarians in reference and faculty services who work with empirical legal scholars, this workshop can also be instrumental to law firm librarians assisting attorneys with briefs or trial strategy, as well as government law librarians who encounter empirical legal research in their work.

Participants need no background or knowledge of statistics to enroll in the workshop. Through both a lecture format and hands-on computer work, workshop participants will acquire a broad understanding of empirical legal research and will receive an introduction to manipulation of data using Stata statistical software. Temporary licenses for Stata software will be provided to participants.

Speaker(s): 
Amy Taylor, Coordinator and Co-moderator, J. Michael Goodson Law Library, Duke University School of Law
Jill Duffy, Co-moderator, Supreme Court of the United States Library
Lee Epstein, Northwestern University School of Law, Pritzker Legal Research Center
Andrew Martin, Washington University

Separate registration fee required – June 12 deadline

Registration fee includes: 
round-trip transportation between the Washington Convention Center and American University, program, handouts, continental breakfast, lunch and refreshments.

Registration Fee

Nonmember: 
$290.00
AALL Member Discount: 
$240.00
AALL gratefully acknowledges American University Washington College of Law for hosting this workshop.