Conducting socio-legal research in Portugal: From the experience of the Permanent Observatory for Justice to the study of working conditions in courts

João Paulo Dias; Conceição Gomes; Marina Henriques

doi:10.35295/osls.iisl.1735

Authors

João Paulo Dias Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0884-8746
Conceição Gomes Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9081-028X
Marina Henriques Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4182-532X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35295/osls.iisl.1735

Keywords:

Socio-legal studies, judicial system, trust and involvement, judicial institutions and professionals, methodologies, Portugal

Abstract

Empirical research on judicial systems requires diversified methodologies adapted to the contexts of courts and judicial actors. The experience gathered through the Permanent Observatory for Justice tells us that the support of judicial and political institutions and professionals’ associations are essential to reach a ‘hard-to-reach population’ and obtain robust results. The Observatory, with its interdisciplinary approach, had a significant public impact and contributed to public policies on justice. It was also fundamental to design and implement judicial training actions, through the Observatory’s Legal and Judicial Training Unit. The aim is to discuss the developed strategies to ensure the involvement of the institutional and judicial actors, build trust, and achieve valid results. The use of the project QUALIS, which assessed working conditions in Portuguese courts, allows us to focus on a concrete example of use of strategies and methodologies, with impacts on the improvement of the judicial system.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Views 240
Downloads:
13(S1)_Dias_et_al_OSLS 247
XML_13(S1)_Dias_et_al_OSLS 12

Author Biographies

João Paulo Dias, Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra

João Paulo Dias. Researcher – Permanent Observatory for Justice, Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra. Institutional address: Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra, Colégio S. Jerónimo, Largo D. Dinis, 3000-995 Coimbra, Portugal. Email address: jpdias@ces.uc.pt

Conceição Gomes, Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra

Conceição Gomes. Researcher – Permanent Observatory for Justice, Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra. Institutional address: Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra, Colégio S. Jerónimo, Largo D. Dinis, 3000-995 Coimbra, Portugal. Email address: cgomes@ces.uc.pt

Marina Henriques, Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra

Marina Henriques. Researcher – Permanent Observatory for Justice, Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra. Institutional address: Centre for Social Studies of the University of Coimbra, Colégio S. Jerónimo, Largo D. Dinis, 3000-995 Coimbra, Portugal. Email address: marina@ces.uc.pt

References

Blackham, A., 2022. When law and data collide: the methodological challenge of conducting mixed methods research in law. Journal of Law and Society [online], 49(S1), S87–S104. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/jols.12373

Branco, P., Casaleiro, P., and Pedroso, J., 2018. Sociologia do Direito made in Portugal: o contributo do CES no panorama nacional. E-Cadernos [online], 29, 237–252. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4000/eces.3529

Casaleiro, P., Relvas, A.P., and Dias, J. P., 2021. A Critical Review of Judicial Professionals Working Conditions' Studies. International Journal for Court Administration [online], 12(1), 1–28. Available at: https://doi.org/10.36745/ijca.334

Cowan, D., et al. 2006. District Judges and Possession Proceedings. Journal of Law and Society [online], 33(4), 547–71. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6478.2006.00370.x

Dias, J.P., 2004. O mundo dos magistrados: a evolução da organização e do auto-governo judiciário [online]. Coimbra: Almedina. Available at: https://estudogeral.uc.pt/bitstream/10316/79933/1/O%20mundo%20dos%20magistrados.pdf

Dias, J.P., 2015. Ciências em sociedade: diálogos interculturais e ecologias de saberes perante ameaças neocoloniais. Textos & Debates [online], 27(2), 257–278. Available at: https://doi.org/10.18227/2317-1448ted.v2i27.3205

Dias, J.P., and Azevedo, R.G., eds., 2008. O papel do Ministério Público: estudo comparado dos países latino-americanos [online]. Coimbra: Almedina. Available at: https://estudogeral.uc.pt/bitstream/10316/96243/1/O%20papel%20do%20ministerio%20publico.pdf

Dias, J.P., and Gomes, C., 2018. Judicial Reforms 'Under Pressure': The New Map/Organisation of the Portuguese Judicial System. Utrecht Law Review [online], 14(1), 174–186. Available at: https://doi.org/10.18352/ulr.448

Dias, J.P., Casaleiro, P., and Gomes, C., 2020. Os "invisíveis" da justiça: condições de trabalho dos/as oficiais de justiça em Portugal. Revista Culturas Jurídicas [online], 7, 1–31. Available at: https://estudogeral.uc.pt/bitstream/10316/90961/1/Os_as%20invisiveis%20da%20justica.pdf

Dobbin, S.A., et al., 2001. Surveying Difficult Populations: Lessons Learned from a National Survey of State Trial Court Judges. Justice System Journal, 22(3), 287–307. https://biblioteca.cejamericas.org/bitstream/handle/2015/3479/ncsc-survey-judges.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Dodds, S., and Hess, A.C., 2021. Adapting research methodology during COVID-19: lessons for transformative service research. Journal of Service Management [online], 32(2), 203–217. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1108/JOSM-05-2020-0153

Douzinas, C., and Perrin, C., eds., 2011. Critical Legal Theory – 4 volumes. London: Routledge.

Felt, U., 2017. Under the shadow of time: Where indicators and academic values meet. Engaging Science, Technology, and Society [online], 3, 53–63. Available at: https://doi.org/10.17351/ests2017.109

Ferreira, A.C., and Pedroso, J., 1999. Entre o passado e o futuro: contributos para o debate sobre a Sociologia do Direito em Portugal. Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais [online], 52, 333–361. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/10316/40644

Ferreira, A.C., et al. 2014. Quem são os nossos magistrados? Caracterização profissional dos juízes e magistrados do Ministério Público em Portugal [online]. Coimbra: Centro de Estudos Sociais. Available at: https://estudogeral.uc.pt/bitstream/10316/86801/1/Relat%c3%b3rio%20Final%20Quem%20s%c3%a3o%20os%20nossos%20magistrados%202014.pdf

Frade, C., Fernando, P., and Conceição, A.F., 2020. The performance of the courts in the digital era: The case of insolvency and restructuring proceedings. International Insolvency Review [online], 29(3), 346–359. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/iir.1390

Gomes, C., 2018. A formação de magistrados como instrumento de transformação da justiça. Revista Crítica de Ciências Sociais [online], Special Issue, 237–260. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4000/rccs.7881

Gomes, C., and Fernando, P., 2016. Justiça e eficiência. O caso dos Tribunais Administrativos e Fiscais. February. Coimbra: Centro de Estudos Sociais.

Gomes, C., et al., 2016. Violência Doméstica. Estudo avaliativo das decisões judiciais [online]. Coleção Estudos de Género 12. Lisbon: Comissão para a Cidadania e Igualdade de Género. Available at: http://hdl.handle.net/10316/44015

Gomes, C., et al., 2021. Para uma reforma do sistema prisional. Caso da aplicação do Estatuto do Corpo da Guarda Prisional [online]. Coimbra: Centro de Estudos Sociais. Available at: https://opj.ces.uc.pt/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Relato%CC%81rio-Aplicac%CC%A7a%CC%83o-do-Estatuto-do-CGP-vFinal.pdf

Guibentif, P., 2014. Law in the semi-periphery: revisiting an ambitious theory in the light of recent Portuguese socio-legal research. International Journal of Law in Context [online], 10(4), 538–558. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1744552314000305

Hammond, C., 2005. The Wider Benefits of Adult Learning: An Illustration of the Advantages of Multi‐method Research. International Journal of Social Research Methodology [online], 8(3), 239–255. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13645570500155037

Hunter, C., Nixon, J., and Blandy, S., 2008. Researching the Judiciary: Exploring the Invisible in Judicial Decision Making. Journal of Law and Society [online], 35(S1), 76–90. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6478.2008.00426.x

Lima, T.M., 2019. A reparação dos acidentes de trabalho em Portugal e as influências do modelo de proteção social da OIT. In: A.C. Ferreira, ed., A Organização Internacional do Trabalho no Direito do Trabalho português: reflexos e limitações de um paradigma sociojurídico. Coimbra: Almedina, 151–178.

Lourenço, R. P., Fernando, P., and Gomes, C., 2017. From eJustice to Open Judiciary. An Analysis of the Portuguese Experience. In: C.E. Jiménez-Gómez and M. Gascó-Hernández, eds., Achieving Open Justice through Citizen Participation and Transparency. Hershey: IGI Global, 111–136.

Newman, P.A., Guta, A., and Black, T., 2021. Ethical Considerations for Qualitative Research Methods During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Other Emergency Situations: Navigating the Virtual Field. International Journal of Qualitative Methods [online], 20, 1–12. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/16094069211047823

Nielsen, L.B., 2012. The Need for Multi-Method Approaches in Empirical Legal Research. In: P. Cane and H.M. Kritzer, eds., The Oxford Handbook of Empirical Legal Research [online]. Oxford Academic, 951–975. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199542475.013.0040

Pedroso, J., Dias, J.P., and Trincão, C., 2003. Por caminhos da(s) reforma(s) da justiça. Coimbra Editora.

Roach Anleu, S., and Mack, K., 2013. Judicial authority and emotion work. The Judicial Review, 11(3), 329–347.

Roach Anleu, S., and Mack, K., 2014. Job Satisfaction in the Judiciary. Work, Employment and Society [online], 28(5), 683–701. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1177/0950017013500111

Roach Anleu, S., and Mack, K., 2016. Managing work and family in the judiciary: Metaphors and strategies. Flinders Law Journal [online], 18(2), 213–239. Available at: http://www.austlii.com/au/journals/FlinLawJl/2016/8.pdf

Santos, B.S., 1974. Law Against Law: Legal Reasoning in Pasargada Law. Cuernavaca: CIDOC.

Santos, B.S., 1995. Toward a new common sense: law, science and politics in the paradigmatic transition. New York: Routledge.

Santos, B.S., 2002. Toward a new legal common sense: globalization and emancipation. London: Butterworths.

Santos, B.S., 2005. A justiça em Portugal: diagnósticos e terapêuticas. Manifesto, 7, 76–87.

Santos, B.S., 2014. O direito dos oprimidos. Coimbra: Almedina.

Santos, B.S., 2015. A justiça popular em Cabo Verde. Coimbra: Almedina.

Santos, B.S., 2017. The Resilience of Abyssal Exclusions in Our Societies: Toward a Post-Abyssal Law. Tilburg Law Review [online], 22(1-2), 237–258. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1163/22112596-02201011

Santos, B.S., and Gomes, C., 1998. Macau: O Pequeníssimo Dragão. Porto: Afrontamento.

Santos, B.S., and Trindade, J.C., eds., 2003. Conflito e transformação social: uma paisagem das justiças em Moçambique. Porto: Afrontamento.

Santos, B.S., and Van Dúnen, J.O.S., eds., 2012. Sociedade e Estado em Construção: Desafios do Direito e da Democracia em Angola – Luanda e Justiça: Pluralismo jurídico numa sociedade em transformação (Vol. I). Coimbra: Almedina.

Santos, B.S., and Villegas, M.G., eds., 2001. El Caleidoscopio de las Justicias en Colombia. Bogotá: Uniandes/Siglo del Hombre.

Santos, B.S., et al., 1996. Os Tribunais nas Sociedades Contemporâneas: O Caso Português. Porto: Afrontamento.

Santos, B.S., et al., 1999. Porquê tão lentos? três casos especiais de morosidade na administração da justiça. Coimbra: Centro de Estudos Sociais.

Santos, B.S., et al., 2007. Tráfico de mulheres em Portugal para fins de exploração sexual. Lisbon: CIG.

Santos, B.S., Trindade, J.C., and Meneses, M.P., eds., 2006. Law and Justice in a Multicultural Society: The Case of Mozambique. Dakar: CODESRIA.

Seawright, J., 2016. Multi-method social science: combining qualitative and quantitative tools. Cambridge University Press.

Van der Ven, L.G.L., et al. 2022. How to involve ‘hard to reach’ population groups in research projects. European Journal of Public Health [online], 32(3). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckac129.476

Ylijoki, O.H., 2016. Projectification and Conflicting Temporalities in Academic Knowledge Production. Teorie vědy/Theory of Science [online], 38(1), 7–26. Available at: https://doi.org/10.46938/tv.2016.331