PLG-225 Legal Research & Writing II
This course is a continuation of Legal Research & Writing I with an emphasis on clear and effective legal writing. In this course, the student is exposed to more complicated legal research requiring careful research and detailed legal analysis. Students will also be instructed in computer assisted legal research. Assignments include legal research memoranda and various pleadings.
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Course Outline
Course Description
This course is a continuation of Legal Research & Writing I with an emphasis on clear and effective legal writing. In this course, the student is exposed to more complicated legal research requiring careful research and detailed legal analysis. Students will also be instructed in computer assisted legal research. Assignments include legal research memoranda and various pleadings.
Credit Hours
3Semester(s) Course Will Be Offered
Fall, Spring
Prerequisites
PLG-100 and PLG-125
Course Learning Outcomes
- Analyze fact scenarios to determine the legal issues raised by those scenarios.
- Conduct research to determine the answers to various legal questions.
- Draft well written legal memoranda.
- Use computers effectively in legal research
Topic Outline
- 1. Review of basic legal research procedures
- 2. The internet and research
- a. Factual research
- b. Legal research
- 3. Computer-assisted legal research
- a. Types of computer-assisted legal research
- b. Finding primary authority
- c. Finding secondary authority
- 4. Advanced legal analysis
- a. Numerous issues in one case
- i. Spotting the issues
- ii. How to organize issues for research and writing
- b. Counteranalysis
- i. Importance
- ii. Techniques
- iii. Where to place it in a memorandum
- 5. General legal writing
- a. Considerations
- b. Legalese
- c. Importance of good, basic writing skills
- 6. Research and writing of legal memoranda
- 7. Specific court documents
- a. Pleadings
- i. Complaint
- ii. Answer
- b. Affidavits
- c. Motions