Dec 07, 2024  
2024-2025 Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Catalog
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PAL 101 - Legal Research and Writing


Credits: 3
3 Lecture Hours

Description
In this course, students explore fundamental legal research techniques. Students review the primary sources of law, particularly cases and statutory law, and secondary law through indexes, digests, encyclopedias, treatises, annotated reports, restatements and law reviews. The course covers the West Key Number system and teaches Shephard’s citations. Students also learn to perform cite and proof checking of legal citations in briefs and other documents.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will:

  1. Identify the tools available to lawyers to ascertain the law.
  2. Perform legal research manually and using electronic systems.
  3. Utilize legal tools effectively.
  4. Develop strategies for navigating law libraries of differing sizes and scopes to complete research tasks.
  5. Demonstrate proficiency in paralegal responsibilities and workflow.
Listed Topics
  1. Introduction to legal research, the legal research process, primary and secondary law sources
  2. Court reports, federal court decisions, state court decisions, national reporter system
  3. Legislation forms, digests, annotated law reports, constitutions
  4. Federal legislation, federal legislation histories, state legislation, municipal legislation
  5. Court rules, procedures
  6. Administrative law
  7. Bluebook citations
  8. Legal encyclopedias, legal periodicals, indexes
  9. Treatises, restatements, model codes, uniform laws
  10. Other research aids
  11. Computer assisted legal research
Reference Materials
Textbook and materials as deemed appropriate by instructor. 
Students who successfully complete this course acquire general knowledge, skills and abilities that align with CCAC’s definition of an educated person. Specifically, this course fulfills these General Education Goals:
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
  • Information Literacy
Approved By: Dr. Quintin B. Bullock Date Approved: 01/26/2024
Last Reviewed: 01/26/2024


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