Maricopa Community Colleges  LAS225   19886-19965 
Official Course Description: MCCCD Approval: 11/10/87
LAS225 19886-19965 LEC 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s)
Legal Research and Writing
Development of practical and analytical skills used in basic legal research. Culminates in writing a legal memorandum. Prerequisites: ENG101, LAS110, or permission of department chairperson or program director/coordinator.
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MCCCD Official Course Competencies:
 
LAS225   19886-19965 Legal Research and Writing
1. Explain the relevant facts and legal issues involved in a legal problem. (I)
2. Research the law using appropriate indexes and legal periodicals. (II)
3. Locate state and federal statutes, ordinances and acts. (III)
4. Update statutes and cases using appropriate up-date services. (IV)
5. Locate a case when the case citation is not available. (V)
6. Cite cases using Blue Book form. (VI)
7. Prepare a well-written memorandum of law. (VII)
8. Identify and analyze the elements of a well-written brief. (VIII)
9. Identify and recognize the ways in which technology assists the legal researcher. (IX)
10. Describe the organizational problems inherent in researching a complex legal issue. (X)
11. File documents in appropriate public agencies. (XI)
12. Identify and analyze the ethical considerations involved in reporting facts and the law to a tribunal and to other parties. (XII)
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MCCCD Official Course Outline:
 
LAS225   19886-19965 Legal Research and Writing
    I. Determination of legal issues and relevant facts
        A. Analysis of the facts
        B. Recognition of legal principles
        C. Application of legal principles to facts of case
      II. Use of indexes and legal periodicals
          A. General digests
          B. Federal digests
          C. Regional digests
          D. State digests
          E. American Law Reports (ALR) and Quick Index to ALR
          F. West key number system
        III. Location of state and federal statutes, ordinances and acts
            A. United States Code Annotated
            B. Arizona Revised Statutes
            C. Federal Register
            D. Federal Rules Decisions
          IV. Updating statutes and cases
              A. Shephard's Citations
              B. Pocket parts
              C. Advance sheets
              D. Later case services
            V. Locating cases when case citation is unavailable
                A. Plaintiff-defendant and defendant-plaintiff tables
                B. Shephard's Table of Cases by Popular Name
                C. Parallel tables
                D. Words and Phrases
              VI. Using proper Blue Book form
                  A. Citing cases
                  B. Citing law review articles
                  C. Citing statutes and acts
                  D. Citing legal periodicals
                VII. Writing a memorandum
                    A. Purpose of memo
                    B. Organization of memo
                  VIII. Writing a brief
                      A. Purpose of a brief
                      B. Organization of a brief
                      C. Page limitations
                    IX. Technology in legal research
                        A. Computer aided research
                        B. Microfiche, microform and microfilm
                      X. Organization of research problem
                          A. Research delegation
                          B. Research tasks
                        XI. Filing of documents with public agencies
                            A. Court clerk
                            B. County recorder
                          XII. Ethical considerations
                              A. Citing of case law and statutes
                              B. Revelation of facts and witnesses
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