So you need to write a research paper: here’s what to know and what to ask.
What is a Research Paper?
In law school, a research paper is a piece of academic writing that engages with previous scholarship on a topic, analyzes key evidence, and advances an argument, offering an original contribution to an on-going field of inquiry.
You probably wrote research papers in your undergraduate courses. The difference is that now you’ll use the legal research and reasoning that you’ve learned in law school.
A research paper involves familiarizing yourself with the scholarship and case law related to a topic via the resources of the library.
A research paper includes footnotes and citations, providing the sources of evidence, illustrating your awareness of previous scholarship in the field, and positioning your ideas in relation to the published ideas of others.
Good models for research papers are articles in law reviews.
Assume that a legal research paper will follow the citation and formatting conventions of the Bluebook, unless your professor tells you otherwise.
Assume that your readers are fellow legal scholars in the field that you are addressing, unless your professor tells you otherwise.
A research paper usually follows the general structure of:
- An introduction that frames a topic and lodges a central claim—or thesis statement—about it.
- The body of the paper, which supports your thesis with evidence and analysis.
- A conclusion that addresses the implications of your thesis.
What to Ask Your Professor
- What is the minimum and maximum word count (or pages)?
- How many footnotes would be too few and too many?
- Should I do research beyond assigned course materials?
- Do you want a full literature review somewhere in the paper?
- Do you want a summary of the paper’s structure at the end of the introduction?
- Are you available to brainstorm ideas in conversation? review an outline? provide comments on a draft?
Quick Tips
Read Syllabi and Assignments Carefully: They often signal specific requirements, expectations, and preferences.
Good Writing Takes Time: Start the early phases—thinking, research, and outlining—sooner than you think you need to.
Select a Manageable Scope: Don’t bite off more than you can chew. It’s better to treat a narrow topic deeply than a broad topic thinly.
Think Before You Write: Putting words down on the page is easy once you have an idea that’s worth writing a paper about.
Allow Your Topic and Argument to Change: Faculty advice, classmate conversations, and research can spark new directions.
Engage Critically with Feedback: Don’t just implement it. Exercise judgment about whether to take up or pass over a suggestion.
Don’t Over-Argue: You don’t need to persuade someone to accept a good argument; just convey knowledge that you have that they don’t.
The HLS Writing Center
The HLS Writing Fellows are a group of 2L and 3L Harvard Law students who are exceptional writers. They are available to talk through your ideas and provide feedback at any stage of the writing process—from thinking and research to drafting and revision.
- Schedule an appointment.
- Send along your writing.
- Get back written comments.
- Meet to discuss your paper.