LEGAL 210 - Legal Research and Writing

5.0 Credits
An introduction to state and federal legal research using both hardbound volumes and online legal research database services. Emphasis is placed on locating and analyzing primary cases and codes, interpreting secondary authorities and practice tools, and updating legal research results effectively. Students will also practice writing client correspondence, legal opinion letters, and a legal memoranda, as well as prepare proper legal citations. Recommend completion of or concurrent enrollment in LEGAL 200; completion of ENGL& 101.
Course-level Learning Objectives (CLOs)
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Conduct legal research using both hardbound volumes and online legal research database services, including Westlaw.
Locate and interpret relevant state and federal constitutions, statutes, and administrative regulations.
Explain how to locate and use state and federal case reports and reporters effectively when conducting legal research.
Demonstrate how case digests are used to locate relevant state and federal judicial opinions.
Use legal encyclopedias, annotated law reports, legal periodicals, and other secondary sources to assist with legal research.
Prepare proper state and federal legal citations in compliance with The Bluebook,the Washington Style Sheet, and the court rules.
Describe how online citators are used to expand and update legal research, and to track the legal history of specific research and its treatment by subsequent courts.
Draft legal documents using the standard components for client correspondence, legal opinion letters, and legal memoranda.
Identify and implement effective strategies to organize and perform legal research and writing projects.

Course Typically Offered
Full Year