Law Library Legal Research Program

Library faculty integrate advanced legal research instruction into the curriculum in the following ways:

• We guest lecture in the Legal Writing Program, Externship Program, and Clinic to teach advanced research skills.
• We embed in clinic courses to teach and mentor students as they research real client problems.
• For Independent Studies, we teach students to research areas relevant to their project.
• We provide law journals with a suite of research presentations, individual guidance and a 1 credit elective research course.
• We train and mentor faculty research assistants.
• We provide on demand individual research help via email, Zoom, and in-person meetings to all students who need help with assignments, journals work, externship projects, etc.
• We teach a variety of legal research elective courses each year.

Legal Research Essentials (LRES-500): January Intersession, one credit

• Learn the fundamental concepts and skills to research cases, statutes, and regulations using major commercial and free resources.
• Gain proficiency in planning research, using secondary sources, and navigating online resources.

Advanced Legal Research (LRES-350): one semester, two credits

• Provides comprehensive instruction in advanced research techniques across research platforms.
• Emphasizes development of cost-effective and interdisciplinary research strategies.

Online Advanced Legal Research (LRES-360): eight weeks in the summer, two credits

• This fully online course mirrors the content and approach of Advanced Legal Research.

Advanced Research for Scholarly Writing (LRES-375): eight weeks in the fall, two credits

• Advanced legal and interdisciplinary research and citation skills.
• Available only to students in their first year of journal participation.

Law Practice Technology and Ethics (LPRC-360): eight weeks in the summer, two credits

• This fully online, skills-based course explores how technology is used in the practice of law and how such use intersects with professional responsibility obligations.
• Covers various practice technologies including time tracking, word processing, artificial intelligence, information security, data analytics, and blockchain technology.
• Technical experience is not required.