How to Write an Excellent Legal Research Proposal

Many law students find the idea of writing a legal research proposal overwhelming. 

You may not know where to start, what to include, or even what a good legal research proposal should look like.

This article will walk you through components of a strong legal research proposal and how to develop each one effectively.

NB: It is important to note that the format of a legal research proposal may slightly differ from one law school or university to another and depending on the level of study.

However, the structure outlined in this article represents the most widely accepted format applicable for undergraduate (LLB), Masters (LLM) and Doctorate (LLD) levels.

You can therefore add, remove, or adjust sections according to the specific guidelines provided by your school or supervisor.

Let’s get started!

If you’re short on time and just want to understand the core ideas on how to write a good research proposal, the summary below gives you a quick overview of what an excellent LLB research proposal should contain.

Substantive Summary on How to Write an Excellent Legal Research Proposal

An excellent legal research proposal clearly outlines what a student intends to study, why the research matters, and how it will be conducted. It contains the following key essential parts.

It begins with a focused title and an introduction that sets the context, followed by a background section that explores the historical, theoretical, conceptual, and current dimensions of the topic.

The problem statement defines the gap between what should be and what exists, supported by evidence, while the objectives and research questions provide direction on the interrogations your study will make.

A strong literature review analyses existing scholarship to identify gaps the study will address, and the methodology explains the approach, design, and data collection methods.

A good legal research proposal also defines the scope of the study, highlights its significance and justification, and briefly summarises the chapters to come.

Throughout, clear language, proper citation, brevity, and a well-structured format are emphasised as key to producing a polished, credible, and compelling proposal.

Lastsly, curate a list of references outlining the sources of law you’ve relied on in your research proposal majorly from your literature review and problem statement.

In case you want to dive deep down to understand how to write each section of a legal research proposal, continue reading the full article.

What is a Research Proposal?

A research proposal is a plan for your research study. It explains what you intend to research, why it is important, and how you plan to go about it. 

Think of it as a roadmap that guides both you and your supervisor through your research journey.

Essential Parts of a Well-written Legal Research Proposal

While writing your research proposal, it must contain the following key parts.

1. Title

The title is a concise statement that identifies the central focus of the research study.

Your title should be clear, concise, and informative. It must reflect the main focus of your study in as few words as possible. 

A good title should immediately tell the reader what your research is about without requiring further explanation.

Avoid long, wordy, and complicated titles. 

2. Introduction

The introduction provides a foundation for your research. It gives the reader an overview of your topic and briefly explains what your study is about.

It helps the reader understand why the topic is important, the general context of your research, and what the reader can expect in the following sections.

It should also lay out a short outline of what will be entailed in the proposal and gives a roadmap on your flow. 

3. Background

The background section is where you explain the foundation of your topic.

It is usually divided into four parts namely;

3.1 Historical Background

Here, you narrate the history of your topic. Trace how the issue evolved over time at the global / international, continental (i.e Africa), and national levels.

Take the reader through key periods in history and how each influenced your topic.

For example, if you are researching children’s rights, begin with the global history of children’s rights, then move to the African context (continent-wise), and finally the national context i.e (Uganda).

The aim is to show how events across time have shaped the issue you are researching.

3.2 Theoretical Background

The theoretical framework provides an explanation on of the scholarly theories upon which your study stands. 

It must explain the lens or perspective through which you will approach your topic laying down the theory or combination of theories that will guide your analysis.

The theoretical framework is important because it anchors your arguments in established academic thought, connects your research to broader scholarly debates, and ensures your analysis is logical and coherent. 

When writing it, briefly describe the chosen theory, explain its key ideas, and justify why it is the most suitable foundation for your study.

For example, a study on gender equality may use the Feminist Legal Theory, while a criminal justice study could draw from Restorative Justice or Deterrence Theory among others. 

3.3 Conceptual Background

This part of the background involves defining and explaining the key concepts used in your research.

Provide expert definitions from credible authors or sources, followed by your own simplified explanations.

While at it, avoid defining every single term. Only focus on the complex or technical ones that are central to your study.

3.4 Contextual Background

This section of the background brings the discussion to the present day. 

It should describe the current realities surrounding your topic, what is happening now, recent trends, or existing gaps in practice or policy.

This gives your study relevance and shows that it is grounded in real-world issues.

4. Problem Statement / Statement of the Problem

The problem statement answers the question: “What problem is your study addressing?“

It should contain the following main parts namely; the ideal situation, actual situation, intensity of the situation, implications of the situation and the solutions on what has to be done. 

Summarily this is what should be laid out. 

1. The Ideal Situation – What would things look like if everything were perfect?
2. The Actual Situation – What is happening in reality? 
3. The Gap / Problem – What is missing or what has gone wrong?
4. Intensity / Magnitude – What statistics exist to show how wide or deep the problem is?
5. Solutions – What needs to be done to solve the existing problem

A good problem statement moves from the ideal situation to the actual reality, then highlights the gap between the two, demonstrates the magnitude or intensity of the problem using evidence such as statistics or real examples, and finally proposes what ought to be done to address it.

In other words, it should flow logically from what should be, to what is, to what is missing, and end with what can be done all while making the reader clearly see why your study is necessary and timely.

Make sure that your problem statement is clear, specific, and concise. Avoid being vague or overly general. 

Be brief and in most cases, your problem statement should not exceed half a page. 

5. Objectives of the Study

These are the goals that you intend to achieve with your research study. They are broken down into two; General Objective and Specific Objectives. 

5.1 General Objective

This is the overall aim of your study. It is the major goal you want to achieve.

For instance, for research on winding up of companies, your general objective could be something like:

“To evaluate the effectiveness of the law governing winding up of companies in Uganda in protecting the rights of shareholders.”

5.2 Specific Objectives

These break down your general objective into smaller and manageable parts. You can write 3-5 objectives to effectively answer your research study.

Each specific objective should focus on a different aspect of your topic and will usually form a separate chapter in your final report.

Ensure that your objectives are SMART. That is to say, Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

6. Research Questions

Research questions are derived from your specific objectives.

In many cases, you can form them by simply rephrasing your objectives into questions.

For example, if your objective is:

“To assess the effectiveness of the legal and policy framework governing the right to privacy in Uganda.”

Your research question can be phrased as follows:

“What is the effectiveness of the legal and policy framework governing the right to privacy in Uganda?”

Research questions guide the interrogation process of your research and as you conclude your overall study, you have to find answers to them. 

7. Literature Review

The literature review is one of the most important sections of your research proposal. 

It is where you analyse and discuss what other scholars have written (related literature i.e books, journals, papers) about your topic. 

To come up with a rich literature review, you must first read, analyse, and summarise the works of other scholars related to your topic.

To find relevant literature, begin by searching for relevant literature on Google Scholar or other academic databases using keywords drawn from your topic. 

Always start by reading the abstract to ensure that the work is directly related to your study.

As you find the relevant literature, download and organise it in a separate folder to keep your sources easily accessible. 

When writing the review, summarise what each author has written in a separate paragraph, highlight the key findings or contributions of their work, and point out any gaps or limitations.

Upon identifying the gaps, proceed to explain how your study intends to address or fill those gaps. 

Research gaps manifest in different forms. For instance, analytical gaps which occur when authors have not fully analysed certain data or variables. 

Geographical gaps which appear when a study does not cover your specific location or context.

Methodological gaps emerge when the research methods used are limited or weak.

Conceptual gaps arise when a key concept is ignored or poorly defined. 

While reading literature, recognise those gaps and justify how your study will fill those gaps.

Once that is done, youu must organise your literature review to flow coherently and logically and there are several ways to do it.

You can arrange it chronologically, starting from older studies to newer ones; thematically, according to major themes or issues; or by objectives, following the order of your specific research objectives.

Mention the author’s name / names expressly in the body and put the full citation of their study in the footnotes. 

8. Research Methodology

The research methodology explains your overall plan for collecting and analysing data.

It is comprised of various parts as laid out below;

8.1 Research Design

The research design is the overall approach you intend to use to address your research objectives. It may be qualitative, quantitative, or a mixed-methods design. 

A qualitative design focuses on understanding experiences, opinions, and behaviours, while a quantitative design deals with numerical data and statistical analysis. 

A mixed-methods approach combines both, offering a more comprehensive understanding of the research problem.

8.2 Data Collection Methods and Tools

This part outlines how you will gather information for your study and the tools that will aid you in the research process.

Depending on your research method, clearly describe your study population, sample size, and sampling methods. 

Explain whether you will use random sampling, purposive sampling, or another technique. 

Next, explain your data collection methods, such as interviews, questionnaires, focus group discussions, document analysis, or observation.

9. Scope of the Study

The scope of the study defines the boundaries of your research. It lays down what your study covers and what it deliberately leaves out. 

It helps readers understand the limits within which your research operates and prevents the study from becoming too broad.

9.1 Geographical Scope

This specifies the location where your study will be conducted. 

You should clearly indicate the area, district, or country your research will focus on and justify why that particular locality was chosen.

9.2 Content Scope

The content scope explains the subject matter of your study. It defines the main issues, variables, or themes you intend to examine and how they relate to your research objectives.

9.3 Time Scope

The time scope specifies the period your research covers. For instance, “between 2015 and 2024.” 

This shows the reader the time frame from which your data or analysis will be drawn and helps contextualise your findings.

10. Significance of the Study

The significance of the study highlights why your research is important and who will benefit from it. It shows the value of your work to various audiences. 

For example, your study may contribute new knowledge to academic literature, help policymakers make informed decisions, or provide practical recommendations for practitioners.

You can also point out how your findings will benefit future researchers, institutions, or communities affected by the issue you are studying. 

Essentially, this section should answer the question: Why does this research matter?

11. Justification of the Study

The justification explains why you chose to conduct your research and why it deserves attention.

It should demonstrate that there is a real need for the study, backed by evidence such as existing gaps in literature, legal inconsistencies, or social problems that require new understanding.

A well-written justification convinces the reader that your topic is timely, relevant, and contributes something new to ongoing discussions or policy debates. 

It should link back to the problem statement and show that your research is not being done just for the sake of it, but to solve or clarify a genuine issue.

12. Summary of the Chapters

The summary of chapters gives the reader a preview of the structure of your full research report. It acts as a roadmap showing what each chapter will contain.

For instance, Chapter One introduces the study and presents the background, problem statement, objectives, and justification.

Chapter Two analyses the effectiveness of laws governing winding up of companies in Uganda.

Chapter Four presents and analyzes the research findings, while Chapter Five discusses the findings and offers conclusions and recommendations.

13. References

This section presents all the sources consulted in your study. Ensure that you organise them under appropriate categories such as the Constitution, statutes, books, journal articles, and theses or dissertations.

Proper categorisation promotes clarity and helps you avoid plagiarism by giving proper credit to the authors whose work informs your research.

Most of these sources will arise from your background, problem statement, and literature review.

This list of references or bibliography should not contain the sources you will use for your final study but rather those you have relied on in the research proposal.

13. Conclusion

A conclusion for your research proposal sums up what you propose to research about and what your proposal is about.

The conclusion is however optional as some supervisoros believe that you can’t conclude yet the study is still in its planning stage.

Additional Tips on How to Write an Excellent Legal Research Proposal

• Language. Ensure that you write your proposal using futuristic langauge because you are ‘proposing’ and your research has not yet been approved.

The study has not been conducted yet or approved. Write in terms of what you intend or plan to do, not what you have done.

• Length. Be precise and concise. Some law schools will require you not to go beyond 10 pages for your overall research proposal.

• Citation. Make sure that you follow appropiate citations. Whether you are using OSCOLA or any other recognised format of citation, ensure that you properly cite the sources you use.

Failure to do so will result in your work being flagged for plagiarism.

• Topic. Though not always necessary, it is helpful to discuss the topic of your research with your supervisor in advance before embarking on the research project.

He/ she can give you a sense of direction that your research should take and help save you time as you write your research proposal and avoid endless rejections.

• Structure. Adhere to the format required by your faculty or department.

Typically, a good legal research proposal includes an introduction, background, problem statement, objectives, research questions, methodology, and references as laid out in this article.

Number all the sections consecutively to have a proper flow.

• Proofreading. Before submission, review your work for grammatical errors and clarity.

Reading it aloud or having it reviewed by a colleague can help you identify errors.

Conclusion

That’s it!

When you implement the tips of writing your legal Research Proposal in this article, you will be ready to submit and have your proposal accepted in no time.

I hope you found this helpful.

In case you need help coming up with your legal research proposal, we are glad to inform you that at JurisPilot, we specialise in providing expert legal research services including legal research proposal writing for undergraduate, masters and doctorate law students.

Should you need any assistance, let me know in the comment section and do not hesitate to contact us.