How to Write an Abstract and Keywords for a Law Research Paper

A good abstract for a law research paper states, in 150 to 300 words, the legal problem, your research question, the method you used, your main argument and your conclusion, without footnotes or long case citations. Keywords are four to six terms that a researcher would type into a database to find your paper. This guide gives you a five-move formula, two complete example abstracts, and a checklist for choosing keywords.

Why the abstract matters so much

The abstract is the first thing an editor reads, and often the only thing. Editors use it to decide whether to send your paper for peer review. Reviewers use it to decide whether they can review it. After publication, databases and search engines index it, so readers decide from the abstract whether to download your paper. A vague abstract can sink a good paper at the first stage.

The five-move formula

Almost every strong legal abstract makes these five moves, usually in this order:

The fourth move is where most student abstracts fail. “This paper discusses the issue of…” tells the editor nothing. “This paper argues that…” tells them what you have found.

Example abstract 1: doctrinal paper

This is an example written for this guide. It shows the five moves in a doctrinal paper.

Title: Marriage as a Shield: Revisiting the Marital Rape Exception under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

When the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 replaced the Indian Penal Code, Parliament carried forward the exception that excludes non-consensual intercourse by a husband with his adult wife from the offence of rape. The retention came while constitutional challenges to the earlier exception were still pending before the Supreme Court. This paper asks whether the exception can be reconciled with Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution as interpreted by the Supreme Court in its decisions on privacy, bodily autonomy and decisional freedom. Using doctrinal analysis of constitutional jurisprudence and the text of the new code, it argues that the exception fails the test of reasonable classification because marital status bears no rational connection to the harm the offence addresses. It further argues that the civil remedy under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 is not an adequate substitute for criminal law. The paper concludes that the exception should be removed by legislation, with procedural safeguards against misuse, rather than left to piecemeal judicial reading.

Keywords: marital rape; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita; bodily autonomy; Article 14; criminal law reform

Why it works: the first two sentences give context and the gap; the third states the question and method; the fourth and fifth give a clear argument; the last sentence gives the recommendation. It names constitutional articles but no case citations.

Example abstract 2: empirical or socio-legal paper

Empirical abstracts must also mention the sample, the tool and the headline finding. This example is illustrative: the study design is invented to show the structure, so do not cite it as real research.

Title: Knowing the Right, Missing the Remedy: Awareness of Free Legal Aid among Undertrial Prisoners in a District Jail

Section 12 of the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 entitles every person in custody to free legal services, and legal services institutions are expected to reach prisoners at the earliest stage. Whether this entitlement translates into actual representation for undertrial prisoners is rarely tested at the district level. This study examines the gap between awareness of the right to legal aid and its use. It draws on a structured questionnaire administered to undertrial prisoners in one district jail, supplemented by semi-structured interviews with panel lawyers and jail officials. The findings indicate that most respondents had heard of free legal aid but few could name how to request a lawyer, and that first contact with a lawyer often came only after the first bail hearing. The paper argues that awareness campaigns alone cannot close this gap and recommends a mandatory legal aid interview within a fixed period of admission to jail, recorded in the prisoner’s file.

Keywords: legal aid; undertrial prisoners; access to justice; Legal Services Authorities Act; prison reform

Why it works: it states the legal basis, the gap, the method and sample type, the findings in plain words, and a specific recommendation. A real abstract would add the sample size and the period of data collection.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Background overload: four sentences of history and one line on your argument. Flip the ratio.
• “This paper will discuss”: say what the paper argues or finds.
• Footnotes or full citations: abstracts stand alone. Name a statute if needed; avoid long case citations unless the paper is a case comment.
• Abbreviations without expansion: write the full name of an Act or body at first use.
• New material: the abstract must not claim anything the paper does not deliver.
• Exceeding the word limit: editors notice. Count before you submit.
• Copying sentences from the introduction: write the abstract fresh after finishing the paper.

How to choose keywords

Keywords help indexing services and search engines match your paper to readers. Use this checklist:

1. Pick four to six terms, unless the journal specifies a number.
2. Include the main legal concept (for example, “bodily autonomy”) and the main instrument (for example, “Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita”).
3. Add a broader field term (for example, “criminal law reform”) so the paper appears in wider searches.
4. Use words researchers actually search. Ask: what would I type into Google Scholar to find this?
5. Avoid repeating the exact title word for word; keywords should add search paths.
6. Separate with semicolons and use lower case unless a term is a proper noun.

A fill-in abstract template

[Legal issue] has become significant because [recent development]. However, [gap or unresolved problem]. This paper examines whether [research question]. Using [doctrinal / empirical / comparative] analysis of [sources or data], it argues that [main claim]. It further shows that [supporting claim]. The paper concludes that [answer or recommendation].

Fill the template, then edit for flow so it reads as natural prose rather than a form. For the full paper structure that sits behind the abstract, see legal research paper format and how to write a legal research paper. When you send the paper, the abstract often goes into your cover letter too.

The Lexfolio Journal of Law, Policy and Social Sciences (LJLPS), a new double-blind peer reviewed journal, asks for an abstract and keywords with every submission; see its call for papers.

Frequently asked questions

How long should an abstract be for a law journal?

Usually 150 to 300 words. Many Indian law journals ask for about 200 to 250 words. Always follow the specific limit in the author guidelines.

Should I write the abstract first or last?

Write a rough version first to guide your research, but rewrite it after the paper is finished so it reflects your actual argument and conclusion.

Can I cite cases in an abstract?

Generally no. Name a statute or a constitutional article if needed. The exception is a case comment, where naming the judgment under study is natural.

How many keywords should a law paper have?

Four to six is standard. Choose terms that describe the legal concept, the instrument and the wider field.