Systematic Literature Review Method in Legal Research

Systematic Literature Review Method in Legal Research The article discusses the applicability of systematic literature reviews (SLR) as a method of meta-research in legal science. It highlights the merits of the method, such as rigour, transparency, and accountability, in contrast to more traditional, less methodologically stringent, ‘narrative’ reviews. Next, it discusses the main types of systematic reviews and traces their application in law to date. It also analyses the main ontological, epistemological, and axiological challenges and some practical obstacles to applying the method in legal research. These challenges stem primarily from the specific, interpretive and value-laden nature of law and legal knowledge. Since legal reality and legal discourse are inseparable from one another, and partially dependent on axiological and ideological beliefs, the standard approach to SLR may often be unworkable. These challenges are illustrated by an example of the SLR on the sources of the constitutional crisis in Poland, conducted by the authors. The review process is outlined, and the solutions to the abovementioned challenges are presented. As the case study demonstrates, the systematic literature review can be an invaluable method for legal research, especially if it contains an interdisciplinary dimension. If properly employed, it produces relevant insights and increases the argumentative quality of this research.