LEGAL 295 - Advanced Legal Research and Writing

5.0 Credits
Critical analysis of legal authorities, analytic reading and writing, and objective and persuasive writing techniques. Includes advanced approaches to using law libraries and online services. Students prepare various documents in proper formats with emphasis on writing mechanics.
Prerequisite Completion of LEGAL 200 and LEGAL 210.
Course-level Learning Objectives (CLOs)
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Demonstrate an ability to critically analyze and conceptualize legal issues, locate and evaluate appropriate legal authority, and apply such authority to the resolution of hypothetical factual situations.
Identify relevant, current support for legal analysis using correct citations for legal and nonlegal sources.
Formulate search queries effectively in online database services like Westlaw, and efficiently use online legal research methods as time saving devices in legal research and writing.
Apply core legal writing techniques, including clarity, cohesion, concision, and plain English concerns.
Distinguish between objective and persuasive techniques in legal writing, and prepare various types of legal writing in their acceptable legal formats.
Construct legal arguments and documents effectively within limited time constraints.
Demonstrate awareness of ethical issues regarding paralegals or non-lawyers engaging in the unauthorized practice of law.