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Legal Research I

Legal Research I - Professors vary

Course Number: LAW-023
Course Type: Foundational
Credits: 2
Enrollment Limit: Determined by the Registrar
Description: This course will introduce first-year law students to primary and secondary sources as well as best practices used in legal research with emphasis placed on legal research as an integral part of legal practice. Students will (1) learn foundational research skills that can be applied to legal research questions in any area of law; (2) develop legal research strategies to use databases, sources, and tools effectively; and (3) build on knowledge from LAW I by utilizing core primary and secondary U.S. legal information sources, learn how this material is used, organized, published, indexed, and kept current, and how to find and use these sources efficiently. Mastering legal research requires a hands-on approach.
Prerequisite: none
Evaluation Method: Students will attend lectures and complete in-class exercises, homework assignments, a mid-term, and a final project, all of which contribute to students’ final grade. There will not be a final exam.
Capstone: no
WIE: no

The American Bar Association accreditation standards require students to regularly attend the courses in which they are registered. Lewis & Clark expects students to attend classes regularly and to prepare for classes conscientiously. Specific attendance requirements may vary from course to course. Any attendance guidelines for a given class must be provided to students in a syllabus or other written document at the start of the semester. Sanctions (e.g., required withdrawal from the course, grade adjustment, and/or a failing grade) will be imposed for poor attendance.