A Systematic Review of Information Seeking Behavior & Information Needs in Female Lawyers

Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to determine the legal information-seeking behavior of female lawyers. The study explores the legal information needs, methods, and barriers faced by female lawyers while seeking legal information. Methodology: In this quantitative study survey design is used. The population of this study consists of female lawyers from which a sample (n=305) is taken. A structured questionnaire was distributed among the female lawyers of Punjab province in Pakistan. The questionnaire collected data regarding demographic information, information-seeking behaviors, information needs, and barriers faced by female lawyers while seeking legal information. SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS V-23) is used for data interpretation. Data presented in tables and comprised of percentages, mean, modes, standard deviation, and frequencies. Findings: The study found out that law libraries, internet, and online legal resources are available for female lawyers at the workplace. The study reported that female lawyers seek legal information for the preparation of professional cases and prefer printed material over electronic data while seeking legal information. Non-availability of a separate law library for females and lack of training to obtain digital information are among the major barriers faced by female lawyers while seeking legal information

Analysis of Criminal Law Literature A Bibliometric Study from 2010-2019

The purpose of this research paper is to present a quantitative analysis of the Criminal Law Literature published from 2010 to 2019. Design/Methodology: The Institute of Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Science database was used as a source for extracting the data of published documents during the period 2010-2019. The analysis of the published literature was based on the following indicators: research productivity of each country, annual publications, annual citations, highly cited articles, highly cited law journals, most productive institutions in the field of criminal law, and most prolific authors. Research articles, conference proceeding papers, book reviews and editorials are different type of documents included in this study for analysis. Findings: The Finding revealed that 2017 was the most productive years in term of publications in the field of Criminal Law. The study found that the USA is the most productive country. The findings further showed that four universities situated in USA are in the list of top ten most productive universities in the field of Criminal Law. Conclusion: The result of this study shows that last three years are the most productive years in term of research in criminal law. Study also found that the USA is the most productive country in the world in term of research in the field of criminal law

CLOSE CIRCUIT CAMERAS’ (CCTV) SURVEILLANCE IN NEXUS WITH DATA PROTECTION LAWS, AND RIGHT OF PRIVACY IN PAKISTAN

The instant study is unique of its nature providing a comprehensive analysis on right of privacy and data protection laws in Pakistan with special reference to CCTV surveillance; its scope in the light of judgments of Apex or Higher Courts in Pakistan. It finds that right of privacy is interconnected with other fundamental right of life or right of dignity. CCTV surveillance in Pakistan is ever increasing and posing a threat to right of privacy; it deliberates the arguments about such surveillance in public or private domains and its legality. Further, it tries to intricate the existing legal framework in Pakistan either working as a mean of safeguard for privacy or a source of infringement for or against CCTV surveillance. Meanwhile, the study also presents critical analysis of the Proposed Data Protection Bill (PDPB), 2020 in the light of General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), 2018

Lawyers Response to COVID-19 Infodemic on Social Media

Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to examine and analyze the skills and practices of lawyers in response to the misinformation/Infodemic of COVID-19 on Social Media platforms. Research Methodology: In this quantitative study an online survey was conducted among lawyers in Pakistan. The population of the study was made up of practicing lawyers from different District Bar Associations in Pakistan. A questionnaire was distributed to collect data regarding demographic information, use of social media, response to misinformation about COVID-19 on social media and to identify the methods employed by lawyers to check the authenticity of such information. Collected data were first analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS V 23) and then presented in frequency, mean, percentage, and standard deviation. Findings: The study revealed that the majority of lawyers use social media platforms. It shows that the most popular social media platforms among the lawyers are Facebook and WhatsApp. The outcome shows that lawyers encounter fake stories about COVID-19. Critical thinking, comparison, and cross-checking are among the most commonly used techniques employed by the lawyers to check the authenticity of any information about the COVID-19 on social media. It also revealed that most of the time they share such news after checking its authenticity but sometimes they share it without confirming it

A Systematic Review of Information Seeking Behavior & Information Needs in Female Lawyers

Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to determine the legal information-seeking behavior of female lawyers. The study explores the legal information needs, methods, and barriers faced by female lawyers while seeking legal information. Methodology: In this quantitative study survey design is used. The population of this study consists of female lawyers from which a sample (n=305) is taken. A structured questionnaire was distributed among the female lawyers of Punjab province in Pakistan. The questionnaire collected data regarding demographic information, information-seeking behaviors, information needs, and barriers faced by female lawyers while seeking legal information. SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS V-23) is used for data interpretation. Data presented in tables and comprised of percentages, mean, modes, standard deviation, and frequencies. Findings: The study found out that law libraries, internet, and online legal resources are available for female lawyers at the workplace. The study reported that female lawyers seek legal information for the preparation of professional cases and prefer printed material over electronic data while seeking legal information. Non-availability of a separate law library for females and lack of training to obtain digital information are among the major barriers faced by female lawyers while seeking legal information

Law Library usage for Legal Information Seeking among the Law Students in Public Sector Universities: An Empirical Study

Objectives: The primary purpose of this study was to determine the Law Library usage patterns of law students in the public sector universities of Punjab, Pakistan. It analyzed the legal information needs of law students along with the purpose of their visits, availability of services, and major problems faced by law students in the law libraries. Methodology: This empirical study was conducted while using a survey design. A structured questionnaire was distributed among the participants of the study using a convenience sampling technique. Collected data was analyzed and interpreted through the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS V23). Descriptive statistics were used and data was presented in form of frequencies, modes, standard deviation, and percentages. Findings: The study revealed that the majority of law students visit the law library once a month. It also transpires that the main purpose of visiting the law library is to work on class assignments and preparation for exams. The study pointed out major problems faced by the law students in law libraries that included the non-availability of a law librarian, non-availability of online databases, and non-availability of legal research journals. The study also recommends reforms to improve the situation in law libraries which ultimately help to raise the legal education standards in Pakistan

Analysis of Criminal Law Literature A Bibliometric Study from 2010-2019

The purpose of this research paper is to present a quantitative analysis of the Criminal Law Literature published from 2010 to 2019. Design/Methodology: The Institute of Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Science database was used as a source for extracting the data of published documents during the period 2010-2019. The analysis of the published literature was based on the following indicators: research productivity of each country, annual publications, annual citations, highly cited articles, highly cited law journals, most productive institutions in the field of criminal law, and most prolific authors. Research articles, conference proceeding papers, book reviews and editorials are different type of documents included in this study for analysis. Findings: The Finding revealed that 2017 was the most productive years in term of publications in the field of Criminal Law. The study found that the USA is the most productive country. The findings further showed that four universities situated in USA are in the list of top ten most productive universities in the field of Criminal Law. Conclusion: The result of this study shows that last three years are the most productive years in term of research in criminal law. Study also found that the USA is the most productive country in the world in term of research in the field of criminal law

Sociocultural and Religious Prospects of the Issue of Gender Disparity: Pakistan Perspective

For many decades, the women of Pakistan are suffering from the issue of gender disparity and despite certain legislations to strengthen the women, the issue could not be resolved. The Global Gender Gap Index Report 2020 ranked Pakistan 3rd worst,151 out of 153 developing countries following by Yemen and Iraq. This situation thus, leads that there are some major flaws in the existing cultural system and in the education of religion due to which the issue has become a dilemma for both, the state and the society. In this context, this study aims to analyze the issue in the light of the Qur’an, the Sunnah (pbuh) and the sociocultural context of Pakistan. After a thorough investigation, this study found cultural rigidity, illiteracy, and lack of scientific understanding of the relevant provisions of the Qur’an and Sunnah (pbuh), major contributors in the development of gender disparity. This research, thus, recommends an overhauling of the system of education, and study of the Qur’an and Sunnah (pbuh) in the light of the changed sociological context which would lead to the reformation of the rigid culture and would improve the issue of gender disparity

Access to Own Dwelling through Ijarah at Islamic Banks and State-Owned Housing Scheme in Pakistan

Purpose: Access to a safe dwelling is one of the necessities of life and an indicator to reveal the economic development of a country. In Pakistan, however, the majority of the people do not have their dwelling rather have to spend their life in renting homes or in slums. To overcome the housing shortfall, the State Bank of Pakistan has pronounced a low-cost housing scheme for the poor and the low-income segment of the society while the Islamic banking sector also offers ijarah facility to purchase or to construct own dwelling and claims to work in the objective of Islamic legal system. Therefore, this study aims to analyze critically,  ijarah and state-owned low-cost housing scheme from the public insight. Design/Methodology/Approach: This research aims to utilize analytical, theoretical, and empirical methods of research rather than some combination thereof by utilizing experimental reasoning based on naturally occurring data, reports, and surveys. To evaluate ijarah and government housing scheme from public insight, a survey of 100 salaried persons has been conducted by way of the questionnaire at different companies in  District Rawalpindi. Findings: This study found that Pakistan is suffering from the acute issue of lack of own dwelling. The result of the conducted survey reveals that the majority of the employed people showed more trust in the state-owned housing scheme than ijarah at Islamic banks. Those people showed their interest in the state-owned housing scheme than ijarah at Islamic banks. Implications/Originality/Value:  The practical approach to ijarah at Islamic bank found in trust deficit concerning the public insight. That ijarah does not provide low-cost homes to the homeless people, hence not serving by Shari’ah. The current policy of the state provides an opportunity to ijarah to facilitate poor people by softening its terms and conditions and by way of qard-e-hasanah.&nbsp

Adjustment of Due Diligence Doctrine in International Humanitarian Law: Constructing an Unobstructed Road

Adjustment of due diligence doctrine in International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is primarily focused to highlight that the principles of IHL need the meticulous implementation of due diligence. With the spectacles of the qualitative research approaches, the article not only overviews the scope and basic concept of due diligence in IHL but also pinpoints the necessity of this doctrine in international law. This article scrutinizes the significance of obligations of due diligence to highlight the respect and ensure respect for IHL. This research article inspects the application of due diligence in non-international armed conflicts and pinpoints the influence of due diligence on IHL