Advanced and specialized approaches to utilize the legal resources available in a law library, and elsewhere, will be examined. The conceptual differences between computer-assisted legal research and hard copy research will be taught. You will also learn how to formulate WESTLAW search queries and effectively and efficiently use WESTLAW and other online legal research methods as timesaving devices in legal research and legal writing.

This seven-week course is designed to examine more thoroughly advanced and specialized approaches to utilizing the legal sources available in the law library and online.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: After successfully completing the tests and assignments for this seven-week course, you will know:

• The hierarchy and structure of our court systems
• The importance of and applications of the different types of legal authority
• The doctrine of stare decisis
• The difference between common law and civil law
• The necessity for preemption by the federal government.
• The concepts of jurisdiction and venue
• The purposes of the different sets of books
• The elements of research
• How to organize a research project
• How to define issues
• How to narrow and refine a research project
• How to begin a research project
• How to search by key number
• How to search by topic
• The purpose of head notes and annotations
• The purposes of the different sets of books
• The elements of research
• How to organize a research project
• How to define issues
• How to narrow and refine a research project
• How to begin a research project
• How to search by key number
• How to search by topic
• The purpose of head notes and annotations

EXPECTATIONS: You will be expected to spend an average of 8 hours per week reading and completing writing assignments. Please note that, barring extenuating circumstances, extensions will not be granted for this online course. 70% is the minimum passing score on all tests and assignments for this course. Students may consider working ahead in the curriculum if they have the time.

PREREQUISITES: Successful completion of Paralegal Certificate Course, Part I (Paralegal 1 & 2), or the equivalent, or law office experience.

REQUIRED TEXTS:

• Legal Research in a Nutshell; by Morris L. Cohen and Kent C. Olson, ISBN 0-314-09589-6.
• WESTLAW online legal research access, available for the duration of the course for only $75.00. Order online

Highly Recommended Legal Resources:

• Black's Law Dictionary, 3rd Pocket Edition, by Bryan A. Garner. St. Paul: West Group.

TESTS: For each of the four topics you will submit a 100-point test covering the information within that topic. These tests are due by 9 a.m. each Monday, and are submitted using the Private Mail tool.

BULLETIN BOARD ASSIGNMENTS: You will also post your responses to four class participation assignments. These assignments will be submitted using the Bulletin Board tool and make up your class participation grade. All weekly objectives, assignments, and tests can be found in the Lesson Material tool. Additional resources are available by accessing the URL Library tool.

GRADING
Your grade will be based on your completion of four Bulletin Board assignments (class participation) and four tests. The tests are submitted using the Private Mail tool. You will have the opportunity to engage in "class participation" by using the Bulletin Board tool to respond to the bulletin board assignments throughout the course. Also, participating in the bulletin board assignments will enhance your understanding of the reading material.

Your final grade will be figured as follows: The four exams are worth 100 points and comprise 70% of your grade. Your participation in the four class participation assignments comprises 30% of your grade.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY
Students may drop the course with a full tuition refund if written notice is sent to The Center for Legal Studies by email info@legalstudies.com by the Wednesday before class begins. Students may drop the course with a 50% tuition refund if written notice is sent to The Center for Legal Studies by email info@legalstudies.com anytime from the Thursday before the course begins until the first Thursday of class. After the first Thursday of class no refunds will be issued.