Approaches to Legal Research 2026

Approaches to Legal Research 2026 is a comprehensive two-day program organized by Max Planck Law, designed to equip researchers, particularly new PhD students, with a broad understanding of various legal research methodologies. The event will take place on April 29–30, 2026, at Harnack House in Berlin, providing an immersive environment for participants to engage with diverse legal research approaches.

The program covers a range of key topics, including interdisciplinary research, socio-legal studies, anthropology of law, doctrinal legal methods, law and economics, legal history, comparative law, and legal theory. Each session is led by esteemed scholars such as Dr. Alexandra Mercescu from the University of Timișoara, Dr. Rachel Pougnet and Dr. Hélène Quiniou from MPI-Freiburg and MPI-Halle, and Professor Dr. Sabrina Ragone from the University of Bologna and MPI-Heidelberg. These sessions aim to provide both theoretical frameworks and practical tools for conducting rigorous legal research.

In addition to the instructional sessions, the event offers opportunities for networking and collaboration among researchers from various institutes within the Max Planck Law network. An evening session will introduce the Legal Research Methods Initiative, fostering further engagement with methodological discussions. The program concludes with a Q&A roundtable, chaired by Professor Dr. Anne Röthel, allowing participants to compare and reflect on the different approaches discussed.

This program is ideal for early-career legal researchers seeking to broaden their methodological horizons and engage with a community of scholars dedicated to advancing legal research. Participants will gain valuable insights into diverse research methods, enhancing their ability to conduct interdisciplinary and comparative legal studies.