This article describes the evolution of, and rationale for, a mixed methods study of risk management by university lawyers in the specific context of work-integrated learning (WIL) programs. The evolution provides a road map of the research design, incorporating references to research methods texts used by the author at each stage of the mixed methods design. The roadmap also includes primary resources developed during the mixed methods study, such as survey instruments, invitations to participate, consent forms, conceptual models and interview guides. These resources can be accessed by WIL researchers to assist them with navigating mixed methods design. WIL researchers are also provided with a number of strategies to promote the validity of their research and research limitations to be mindful of when conducting WIL research using mixed methods.