LCRES - Legal Research
Course Description
This course is designed to acquaint learners with the fundamentals of legal research. The first part of this course introduces the learner to different sources of law (both primary and secondary) and explains how they are applied by courts in common and civil law jurisdictions. The second part of this course offers hands-on experience with computer-assisted legal research and analysis including teaching learners how to identify legal issues, construct a list of key terms and search queries, locate answers in primary and secondary sources, and apply findings to a client’s situation. The third part of this course teaches learners how to update and validate findings and how to properly cite and present their work to a supervising attorney. Emphasis is on the development of research skills, working with enacted law, judicial decisions, secondary sources, the West Key Number System®, KeyCite®, and The Bluebook®, A Uniform System of Citation. This course includes Westlaw access for students for the duration of their time in the paralegal program after passing this course.
The textbooks for this course are listed in the course syllabus in CE Moodle.
Software and other resources include: Basic Internet access, Westlaw, local library (preferably a law library, if available)
This course is a part of the Paralegal Studies Program. You must apply and be accepted into the program in order to enroll in this course.
For more information about this course, please contact Alanna Clanton at (225) 578-6760.
Prerequisites
Students must be enrolled in or completed Principles of Paralegal Studies.Applies Towards the Following Certificates
- Paralegal Studies Certificate : Paralegal Studies Certificate