The <i>Journal of Law and Society</i> in context: A bibliometric analysis

Abstract On this, the occasion of its 50 th anniversary, we employ a quantitative analysis of the Journal of Law and Society ( JLS ) to chart empirically the evolution of socio‐legal studies in the United Kingdom (UK). By tracing the influence(s) of the JLS upon the development of UK socio‐legal research, not only do we demonstrate a new mode of exploring knowledge production in the field of socio‐legal studies, but we also illustrate how computational methods can augment hermeneutical approaches to mapping socio‐legal trends. Through (a blend of) three different analytical approaches – descriptive analyses of bibliographic metadata, text‐linguistic analyses of a corpus of full‐text articles, and network analyses of citation graphs – we generate comparative information about the JLS since its inception in 1974. We then employ this data to interrogate the JLS ’ own narratives; using predictions, ambitions, and statements of intent made by Editor‐in‐Chief Phil Thomas published either within or regarding the JLS , we present a map of the journal's role within, impact upon, and enduring contribution to UK socio‐legal studies. Finally, we discuss our results and propose future directions of the field.