Three Programs for Researchers and Academic Institutions
From public research seminars to academic writing development to full editorial pipeline advisory — each program addresses a distinct stage in the research and publication process.
← Return to HomeThe Institute's three programs are designed to address the stages that most commonly create problems for researchers working in international and comparative law: understanding how to locate and read institutional sources, how to build and submit a publishable argument, and how to run an editorial operation at institutional scale.
Each program operates on a fixed schedule, produces documented outputs at each stage, and is designed so that what a participant or institution receives at the end of the engagement continues to be useful afterward. The methodology is not one of general instruction but of addressing specific, recurring difficulties in research and publication practice.
A public seminar series examining how international institutions are organised, how comparative research across jurisdictions is generally conducted, and how scholars locate and evaluate primary sources. Built for graduate students, researchers, and informed members of the public.
Key Features
- Six monthly 90-minute sessions per cycle
- Reading list distributed before each meeting
- Session summary provided after each meeting
- Open discussion period in each session
- No prior legal training required
Session Sequence
- 01How international institutions are structured and how to read their founding documents
- 02Locating primary sources: treaty repositories, case databases, and official records
- 03Evaluating sources: authority, authenticity, and version control across jurisdictions
- 04Comparative method: how to structure an argument that draws on multiple systems
- 05Secondary literature and its relationship to primary sources in legal argument
- 06Synthesis session: participant questions, method review, and further reading
A programme for researchers preparing work for publication. Covers argument structure, abstract writing, literature review method, citation systems and their differences, reference management software, handling of translated sources, and preparing a submission package for a journal. Delivered over 8 weeks with four workshops and written feedback on two drafts per participant.
Key Features
- Four workshops over 8 weeks
- Written feedback on two draft submissions per participant
- Citation style sheet covering OSCOLA, Chicago, APA, and McGill Guide
- Journal submission checklist provided at program end
- Group size capped at 15 participants
8-Week Schedule
- WK 1–2Argument structure, thesis development, and abstract writing fundamentals
- WK 3–4Literature review method and handling of primary versus secondary sources
- WK 5–6Citation systems, reference management software, and translated or multilingual sources
- WK 7–8Submission package preparation: cover letter, abstract revision, and checklist review
An advisory engagement for research centres and university departments that publish regularly. Covers editorial calendar design, peer-review coordination, version control across authors, translation scheduling, archiving and identifier assignment, and a small reporting set that shows where submissions stall.
Key Features
- Discovery phase mapping existing editorial process
- Editorial process documentation delivered to the institution
- Template pack for editors and reviewers included
- Staff training on the new workflow
- Review meeting after the first publication cycle
10-Week Engagement Phases
- WK 1–2Discovery: mapping current editorial workflow and identifying bottlenecks
- WK 3–4Process documentation: drafting the new editorial calendar and peer-review procedure
- WK 5–7Template design: editor, reviewer, and author templates for each stage of the pipeline
- WK 8–9Staff training and handover of all documentation and templates
- WK 10+Post-cycle review meeting following the first publication cycle under the new process
| Feature | Seminar Series | Writing Program | Publication Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Researchers learning comparative method | Researchers preparing a manuscript | Departments with editorial pipelines |
| Duration | 6 monthly sessions | 8 weeks | 10 weeks |
| Individual feedback | |||
| Documentation produced | Reading list + summaries | Submission package | Process docs + templates |
| Fee (CAD) | 160 | 450 | 970 |
| Open to public | Institutional |
SELECTION GUIDANCE
If you are new to comparative legal research or want to develop your methodology, start with the Seminar Series. If you have a manuscript in progress and want to bring it to submission standard, the Writing Program is the appropriate choice. If you are a department head or research centre director looking at your publication pipeline as a whole, contact us to discuss the Advisory engagement.
Primary Source Grounding
All programs work with identified primary sources. Participants learn to find and verify original instruments rather than relying on summaries.
Privacy & Data Standards
Participant information is handled under Canadian privacy legislation. Program materials are not shared beyond enrolled participants.
Fixed Delivery Schedules
Every program runs to a published timeline with milestones at each stage. Participants and institutions can plan around the engagement from day one.
Written Outputs at Every Stage
Each program produces written materials — reading lists, session summaries, draft feedback, process documents — that participants retain after the program ends.
Open Discussion Norms
Sessions and workshops include time for participants to raise questions and challenge the method, not just receive instruction.
Transparent All-In Pricing
Published fees include all materials, feedback, and documentation. No supplementary charges are added after enrolment.
Open Research Seminar Series
Per participant · Full 6-session cycle
- 6 monthly sessions
- Reading list included
- Session summaries
- Open discussion access
Academic Writing & Citation Program
Per participant · 8-week program
- 4 workshops
- Feedback on 2 drafts
- Citation style sheet
- Submission checklist
- Group capped at 15
Institutional Publication Workflow Advisory
Per engagement · 10-week advisory
- Discovery phase included
- Process documentation
- Template pack for staff
- Staff training
- Post-cycle review meeting
Not Sure Which Program to Choose?
Contact the Institute and we will discuss your research context and recommend which program best fits where you are in your work.
Contact Us