The present book explores prevailing theories on the nature of legal science and legal methodology, and investigates its unique characteristics. In doing so, the book aims to enrich the burgeoning research on methodology of law with new insights, and tilts the methodology debate onto a new, concrete and practical level.

This book is meant to assist master students and PhD students in law to enter into the opaque and complex field of legal methodology, and to develop their own methodological skills. The approach is very hands-on and written with special attention for scholars carrying out legal research. Although the subject matter is one of the most challenging in legal literature, the book is easy to read and invites academics to use it in research practice or research instruction. Probably more than any other publication on the topic it brings theory and practice on research skills swiftly together. This book is also of relevance to funding agencies and policy makers. Understanding theory and practice of legal methodology is of utmost importance in the context of interdisciplinary research. There is a clear need to understand the particular features of legal methodology, as compared to methodologies applied in other social sciences. All in all, the book is strongly recommended for all those wo are in need of a hands-on manual on how to embark upon legal research, but at the same time tickles the interest of all those who show interest in research methodology at large.

The author, Lina Kestemont, stood out among other researchers at the Faculty of Law of the University of Leuven. It was crystal clear from the beginning in 2012 that she was as a very intelligent, ambitious and mature researcher, who showed a vigorous eagerness to explore a territory which was yet unknown to her: the area of methodology of law. She greedily joined our venture to strengthen legal methodology in the law curriculum by embracing the chance to assist in teaching legal methodology. Her input turned out to be vital in giving shape to our classes on legal methodology.