MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

LAS211  19976-20005

Introduction to Legal Research

1.

Identify and analyze ethical issues involved in conducting legal research. (I)

2.

Explain the relevant facts and legal issues involved in a legal problem. (I)

3.

Conduct legal research using appropriate primary sources, secondary sources, and finding tools. (I-IV)

4.

Research state and federal case law, statutes, and administrative materials. (II)

5.

Update research results using methods available for the particular type of source. (V)

6.

Use proper citation form for primary and secondary sources and computer research. (VI, VII)

7.

Conduct legal research using computers and other forms of new technology. (VII)

MCCCD Official Course Outline:

LAS211  19976-20005

Introduction to Legal Research

I. Introduction to Legal Research

A. Elements of legal research

B. Ethical considerations involved in legal research

C. Analyzing a research problem

D. Overview of the U.S. legal system

E. Law books and law libraries

F. Introduction to primary authority, secondary authority, and finding tools

G. Mandatory and persuasive authority

II. Researching Primary Authority

A. Case law

1. State

2. Federal

B. Statutory law

C. Administrative law

D. Constitutional law

E. Court rules

F. Other

III. Researching Secondary Authority

A. Encyclopedias

B. Treatises

C. Restatements

D. Annotations

E. Legal periodicals

F. Other

IV. Finding Tools

A. Digests

B. Legal dictionaries

C. Legal citators

V. Updating Legal Research

A. Pocket parts

B. Shepard's citations

C. Advance sheets, later case services, etc.

VI. Citing the Law

A. Introduction to the Uniform System of Citation

B. Citing primary authority

C. Citing secondary authority

VII. Computer Assisted Legal Research (CALR) and Other New Technologies

A. Types of CALR

1. Westlaw

2 Lexis

B. Other new research technologies

C. Advantages and disadvantages of CALR

D. Citing to computer research