S. Advanced Legal Research Techniques

[CORRECTION: A previous version of this course description erroneously made reference to class sessions on Zoom. In spring 2022, class sessions are expected to be in person unless otherwise directed by the Law School.]

The purpose of the course is to enable the students, now and later in their professional lives, to map out a coherent plan of action when asked to research a topic previously unfamiliar to them. Students should acquire a solid knowledge of research tools and a frame of reference that enables them to function independently and competently in the world of legal information.

Subjects to be covered include the following (with Lexis, Westlaw, Bloomberg Law, and other online resources to be fully integrated into each subject): statutory and legislative materials; case law; regulations and regulatory decisions; court rules and other litigation-related publications; professional ethics materials; treatises, journals, and other secondary sources; standard transactional documents; forms; non-legal materials frequently used in conjunction with legal research; and developments in the legal publishing industry. Generally, each class session will begin with a presentation and discussion led by the instructors, followed by hands-on research work by the students in small groups.

Please note that if there is a wait list to get into this course, priority will be given to students who attend the first class.