Global Trends and Paradigm Shift in Legal Research

Abstract

Over the years, global legal research has undergone a revolution. The advent of research 
revolution driven by modern day technology has prompted a wide research view as against the 
monolithic nature of global legal research. The issues regarding legal research have revolved 
around two questions: ‘How is research training best achieved? and ‘What is the nature and 
meaning of “legal research?’ These questions have prompted other questions, such as ‘What 
methodologies are most effective in achieving the aims of legal research?’ In some jurisdictions, 
it appears that no significant progress is being achieved in legal research. In spite of the extensive 
legal research carried out by researchers in those jurisdictions, the study lacked a clearly defined 
research direction due to the inability and failure of the legal researchers to develop it. This paper 
discusses the emerging trends that are reshaping the way legal research is understood, accessed, 
and delivered. In this era of artificial intelligence (AI), this paper explores the global trends, 
predictions, and challenges and suggested ways to facilitate the global development of legal 
research geared towards a pragmatic future of law.