Are you wondering what an abstract is, what it is composed of, or why it even matters?
Worry not.
In this article, I explain the essential parts to include in a perfect abstract to help communicate your legal research effectively.
Whether you are writing an LLB or LLM dissertation, a research paper, or conference paper, this guide is essential.
It is designed for law students, academics, and researchers who want to understand what makes a strong abstract for legal scholarly work.
Let us dive right in.
Table of Contents
What is an abstract?
An abstract is a high level summary of a research paper, journal article, dissertation, or conference paper.
It tells the reader what the research is about, the problem being examined, methodology used, key findings and the conclusions or recommendations made.
It appears first in scholarly work helping a reader understand what the whole paper is about before reading it in detail.
Essential parts of an Effective Abstract
An abstract is more than a casual summary. For it to be academically effective, especially in law, it must contain specific elements.
Background or Context
This part briefly introduces the subject of your research. It situates the reader within the legal issue under examination.
You may begin with a concise statement of the topic, doctrine, or controversy your research addresses. You may frame it in a way of a hook to grab the attention of readers on the onset.
However, you must be precise. Word space is limited. Avoid lengthy historical explanations.
Focus only on what is necessary to understand the topic of study.
Problem
Here, you must clearly identify the central problem your research addresses.
What is at stake? What legal uncertainty, doctrinal gap, policy weakness, or interpretive controversy does your study engage with?
This does not require a dramatic tone but clarity. The reader must understand the specific issue your paper seeks to resolve.
Solution to the Problem or Argument
After identifying the problem, explain what your research does. Does it evaluate, interrogate, critique, compare, reinterpret, or reform existing legal doctrine?
You may use terms such as. This study ‘evaluates’, ‘interrogates’, ‘evaluates’, ‘tests’, ‘examines’ among others.
Depending on your research, it is often helpful to briefly state your central argument rather than merely describing the topic.
Research Methodology
A strong abstract informs the reader how you arrived at your conclusions.
It involves outlining the research methodology that you used in coming up with the findings of your research.
These may include; doctrinal, non-doctrinal, mixed-methods among others. Do not discuss the limitations or detailed justification of your methodology in the abstract. Simply identify the method used.
This section is also usually written in the past tense, for example: “The study employed a doctrinal methodology”
Findings
This is one of the most important parts of your abstract in which you briefly state what your research found.
What conclusions did your investigation yield? Did you identify inconsistencies in interpretation? Gaps in legislation? Or weaknesses in laws and policy?
Avoid vague statements such as “The study discusses important issues.” Instead, state concrete findings.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Finally, briefly indicate the broader implication of your findings. Does your research recommend legislative reform? Judicial reinterpretation? Doctrinal clarification? Further research?
This section demonstrates the contribution your work makes to legal scholarship or practice.
Why is an Abstract Important in Legal Research?
An abstract performs various critical functions in legal writing.
First, it helps readers quickly understand what your research is about without reading the entire paper. This is particularly important in law, where scholars and practitioners often review multiple articles before selecting which ones to read in full.
Second, it determines whether your work will be read at all. A well written abstract sparks curiosity and demonstrates intellectual clarity. A poorly written one discourages engagement and further reading.
Third, for purposes of visibility in search engines, academic databases abstracts help works to be discovered. If your abstract is clear and contains relevant legal keywords, your article is more likely to be discovered online.
In short, your abstract is your first opportunity to persuade the reader that your research matters.
Tips of Writing Effective Abstracts
If you want to write a strong and academically persuasive abstract, keep the following principles in mind;
- Write the abstract last.
- Be precise and concise.
- Avoid unnecessary background detail.
- Use clear and direct language.
- Generally use the present tense when describing the paper’s argument, and the past tense when referring to methodology.
- Avoid citations, footnotes, and quotations.
- Use a single paragraph unless submission guidelines state otherwise.
- Ensure logical flow from context to problem to method and to findings.
- Include relevant legal keywords for search visibility.
- Write with your audience in mind. Are they legal scholars, practitioners, policymakers, or students?
Above all, clarity is more important than complexity.
A good abstract does not attempt to impress with jargon. It communicates the essence of the research with confidence and precision.
Common Mistakes to Avoid while Writing Abstracts
Many law students and early career researchers make similar mistakes when drafting abstracts. Avoid the following:
- Writing a vague introduction without stating the research problem.
- Describing the topic without presenting the argument.
- Failing to mention methodology.
- Omitting the findings.
- Writing beyond the required word limit.
- Copying sentences directly from the introduction without tailoring them to summary form.
- An effective abstract is intentional. Every sentence must earn its place.
Conclusion
I hope you found this article on how to write a strong abstract for your legal research helpful.
Remember, a well written abstract is important in communicating your research precisely and concisely.
It should clearly identify the issue, articulate your argument, explain your methodology, and summarise your findings in a concise and coherent manner.
If you master the art of writing strong abstracts, you significantly increase the impact, visibility, and credibility of your legal scholarship.
In case you are still finding trouble writing an abstract, kindly let me know in the comment section, I will assist promptly.
If you are still at the early stages of your research journey, you may want to start with a properly structured research proposal.
Here at JurisPilot, we specialise in legal research and writing. Our team is readily available to support you in writing a perfect abstract. Contact us now and have your abstract drafted for you.
