PA 2220 - Legal Research
3 Credits
Provides an understanding of the law library and will assist the student in developing research skills through the use of digests, reporters, statutes, administrative materials and secondary materials. This course includes practice problems requiring legal research. The course also will include an introduction to computerized legal research.
Pre-Requisites Both of these groups:
1.One of these two: EAP 0099, ENG 0099 (Minimum grade: 1.67 GPA Equivalent)
And
2. Any one of these three: READ 0093, READ 0094, READ 0099
OR
ENG 1108
Major Content Areas
Introduction.
Organization of Legal Research Resources.
Strategies for Research.
Citation.
Cases.
Case Finders.
Case Analysis.
Statutes.
Constitutions.
Legislative History.
Statutory Analysis.
Court Rules.
Citators.
Administrative and Executive Publications.
Secondary Authorities.
Computerized Legal Research.
Ethics.
Learning Outcomes
Compile legal research information and detailed research trails both in print and electronic resources.
Conduct computerized legal research on the internet as well as on computerized legal research engines utilizing investigation, research, citation and in-depth legal analysis methods.
Obtain Westlaw or comparable electronic research certification as available.
Recall, interpret and analyze the basic rules of legal professional responsibility, ethical considerations and confidentiality relates to legal research.
Demonstrate and apply a basic understanding of how to conduct manual and computerized legal research.
Find research, and cite legal texts, statutes, codes, regulations and cases.
Interpret, use and evaluate the Shepard System and the Blue book for citations.
Use and analyze legal encyclopedias, digests, reporters, statutes, and administrative and executive publications, loose-leaf publications, periodical literature, treaties, restatements, uniform state laws, dictionaries, and words and phrases citators.
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