About this course
What you’ll learn
Advanced and specialized approaches to utilize the legal resources available in a law library, and elsewhere, will be examined. The conceptual differences between computer-assisted legal research and hard copy research will be taught. You will also learn how to formulate WESTLAW search queries and effectively and efficiently use WESTLAW and other online legal research methods as timesaving devices in legal research and legal writing. Coursework in Advanced Legal Research is equivalent to 45 clock hours of study.
Learning objectives
Participants will demonstrate the following skills through successful completion of all required coursework and assignments:
- Explain the hierarchy and structure of our court systems
- Discuss the importance of and applications of the different types of legal authority
- Define the doctrine of stare decisis
- Differentiate common law and civil law
- Discuss the necessity for preemption by the federal government.
- Define the concepts of jurisdiction and venue
- Explain the purposes of the different sets of books
- Summarize the elements of research
- Demonstrate how to organize a research project
- Demonstrate how to define issues
- Demonstrate how to narrow and refine a research project
- Explain how to begin a research project
- Discuss how to search by key number
- Discuss how to search by topic
- Explain the purpose of head notes and annotations
Continuing Education Information
You will be expected to spend approximately 7 to 8 hours per lesson reading and completing writing assignments. Please note that extensions will not be granted for this online course. 70% is the minimum passing score on all tests and assignments for this course. Students may consider working ahead in the curriculum if they have the time.
Requirements & policies
Accommodations
The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education is committed to providing equal access to continuing education programs for students living with permanent or temporary disabilities. Learn more about the program accommodations (Opens in a new window).
Textbooks
Required textbooks for this course:
- Legal Research in a Nutshell, most recent edition, by Kent C. Olson, Kurt X. Metzmeier, and Michael Whiteman.
- A Uniform System of Citation (a.k.a. “The Bluebook”), most recent edition, Harvard Law Review.
- WESTLAW, online legal research access, available for the duration of the course for only $89.00. Order online
Highly Recommended Legal Resources:
Gilbert Pocket Size Law Dictionary, 3rd Edition. West Academic.
Organizations
Supporting associations
The Advanced Legal Research and Writing Certificate is offered by the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education in partnership with CLS by BARBRI.
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