About The Workshop
SW 41– Divergent Paths : Navigating Methodological Specificities in Modern Jurisprudence (CEENJ Work in Progress)
Convenor: Tomas Gabris
Contact: tomas.gabris@truni.sk
Submission Deadline: 15.5.2026
Workshop Annotation
The concept of a “universal legal method” is increasingly becoming an academic abstraction. While foundational logic remains constant, the practical application of law has fragmented into highly specialized methodological silos. This special workshop, Divergent Paths: Navigating Methodological Specificities in Modern Jurisprudence, seeks to map the unique analytical frameworks that define different branches of law.
The “way” we interpret a rule is now inextricably linked to the “area” of law in which it resides. For instance:
- Criminal Law maintains a methodology of strict construction to protect individual liberty.
- Constitutional Law utilizes teleological and “living document” approaches to address evolving societal values.
- Administrative Law focuses on the methodology of procedural review rather than substantive merits.
- Commercial and Tax Law prioritize textualism and predictability to ensure economic stability.
As the legal landscape incorporates data science, AI, and interdisciplinary evidence, this workshop aims to analyse how these divergent methodologies impact judicial consistency and the evolution of legal theory through intensive peer discussion and paper presentations.
Research Tracks & Topics
We invite original research papers, case studies, and theoretical critiques for workshop discussion on the following themes:
- The Interpretation Divide: Comparative analysis of textualism, purposivism, and originalism across different legal domains.
- Standards of Truth: How evidentiary methodologies differ between the “Beyond a Reasonable Doubt” standard in Criminal Law and the “Balance of Probabilities” in Civil Law.
- Interdisciplinary Methodology: The integration of economic theory in Antitrust Law, scientific modelling in Environmental Law, and psychological assessment in Family Law.
- The Procedural Shift: How the methodologies of Arbitration are redefining the adversarial nature of Commercial Law.
- Technological Methodology: The impact of algorithmic decision-making and legal-tech on traditional branch-specific reasoning.
Submission Guidelines
As this is a special workshop intended for deep-dive analysis, we encourage submissions that raise provocative questions or offer novel theoretical frameworks.
- Abstract: 500-700 words clearly stating the research question, methodology, and the specific branch of law being addressed.
- Keywords: 3–5 descriptive terms.
- Speaker Bio: A short professional biography (max 200 words).
Submit to: tomas.gabris@truni.sk
Notification of Acceptance: on a rolling basis
Workshop Format & Publication
Unlike a standard conference, this workshop will prioritize extended Q&A sessions and peer-review circles to refine the presented works. Selected papers will be considered for publication in a peer-reviewed journal or a collective monograph.
