The Research Programme forms the main body of research commissioned by the Department each year. It is based on the Department's yearly key areas for research, which have a broad range, with topics drawn from across the department.
If you are a researcher and are interested in getting involved in the next round of research, please see information for researchers.
A systematic review of the efficacy of different methods of professional regulation and other systems of influence (e.g. education and funding) in ensuring the suitability of assistance provided to recipients of legal services, to include issues of quality, ethics and diversity, consumer information, choice and competition.
A consideration of the extent to which there is equivalence and variation in the regulation, provision, standards, funding and quality assurance of different providers of legal services judged against appropriate standards of choice, information and competition for customers.
Tort and the 'compensation culture': a review of the balance between tort and direct regulation in civil and common law jurisdictions.
A review of factors which make English and Welsh common law more or less attractive for international business and the identification of potential areas for improvement.
Costs
ADR
Housing
An evaluation of housing cases in the courts in the light of legal and structural change, to answer questions such as:
Are claims being dealt with more quickly?
Are litigants in person playing a more active role?
Do those using the procedures find them easier to understand and operate?
Is the court using its powers to expedite relevant matters?
Qualitative research to examine the approach of district judges to possession proceedings with the aim of identifying the key influences on decisions to grant, suspend, adjourn or refuse possession. The research should also examine the perceptions of possession proceedings of key stakeholders in the outcomes of housing litigation such as social landlords, solicitors representing landlords and tenants, and advice organisations.
Civil appeals
What is the extent of quantitative change in number of claims relative to number of appeals?
What is the pattern of success at all stages?
Is the permission filter working as intended?
What are the effects of change to the appeal route?
What has been the effect of the widening of grounds for appeal in small claims cases?
What impact have the changes had on the work of the judiciary and court staff?
What are the views of litigants, and litigants in person and the legal profession of the changes?
What effect have the changes had on access to justice?
A study of tribunal users according to the nature of the case, users' capacity to engage with the system and the levels of advice, support and representation available to them.
Public perceptions of asylum seekers and knowledge and perceptions of the asylum process.
A review of evidence on the effectiveness (including, if possible, cost effectiveness) of specialist courts in other jurisdictions with particular reference to driving offences, drugs, domestic violence, anti-social behaviour and the environment.
The characteristics of fine defaulters and Community Penalty Breach offenders.