Originally published in 1974, this book looks at the general problems regarding the sociology of law. It describes the various methods of sociological research which may be applied in the field of sociology of law and shows their advantages and empirical limitations.

Adam Podgórecki (1925-1998) was a sociologist and one of the founders of the Research Committee on Sociology of Law. Podgórecki was also one of the founders of the first institute at Warsaw University which was devoted to the social scientific studies of law.