California State University San Marcos
Advanced Legal Research and Writing
About This Course
This exciting course is designed to teach advanced and specialized approaches to utilize the legal resources available in a law library, and elsewhere. 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 time-saving devices in legal research and legal writing.
This course is designed to examine more thoroughly advanced and specialized approaches to utilizing the legal sources available in the law library and online.
Successful graduates of this non-credit course will be awarded a Certificate of Completion from the college or university of their choice.
- Lesson 1: Legal Authorities and Citations
- Lesson 2: Legal Analysis
- Lesson 3: Westlaw© online legal research
- Lesson 4: The Legal Memorandum of Law
- Lesson 5: Manual Legal Research
- Lesson 6: Types of Legal Writing
Course Objectives
- How to conduct manual legal research
- How to conduct electronic legal research
- How to find, interpret and use various types of legal authorities
- How to shepardize legal authorities
- How to write a legal analysis
- How to draft a Memorandum of Law
- How to brief case opinions
- How to engage in various types of legal writing
Participants will be expected to complete reading and homework assignments and will be assigned an advanced legal research project and legal writing assignment. Final research and writing projects will be presented for grading to the instructor or The Center for Legal Studies as a prerequisite of course completion.
PREREQUISITE: Students must have completed the core Paralegal Certificate Course or have one year paralegal experience prior to enrolling in this course.
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Online$729~$995
Course Schedule
Please call 1-800-522-7737 or email [email protected] for more information.
The Advanced Legal Research and Writing is offered in the following formats:
Online$729~$995
The Center for Legal Studies features in a convenient online format the Advanced Legal Research & Writing Certificate Course. Classes are available from any computer with Internet access. This course is designed to more thoroughly examine advanced and specialized approaches to utilizing the legal sources available in the law library and online.
- View the Course Syllabus
- Hands on practical application research exercises to hone your research skills
- Instruction in Westlaw© tutorials
- Students benefit from direct interaction with the instructor and other students.
Required Course Textbooks
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Legal Research, Analysis and Writing, 4th Edition - William H. Putman
$169.00More Info
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Legal Research Methods, 2nd Edition - Michael D. Murray and Christy H. Desanctis
$105.00More Info
Legal Research Requirement
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Westlaw Access
$89.00More Info
Recommended Course Textbooks
Westlaw Agreement: (Please read Westlaw agreement (link below) and check agree in order to add this item.)
In order to add Westlaw Access to your shopping cart, you must read the Westlaw agreement and check the "Yes I Agree" check box to the bottom indicating you agree. You must also select the school you are taking CLS courses through below.
Please Note: Westlaw access through CLS is only available to students currently enrolled in CLS courses.
I understand that this online Westlaw access is for use by students currently enrolled in Center for Legal Studies courses and that this access will expire at the end of the time listed below, regardless of my completion status. I understand that the subscription will only be valid during the times outlined below. My Westlaw subscription is also limited to 60 hours per month and 600,000 downloads within the time that the subscription is valid.
Live Lecture Course Format: Paralegal Certificate Course
Live course format student’s access will expire on the first business day after the last day of class, regardless of when Westlaw is purchased.
Please Note: Access is required for the entire course duration.
Online Course Format: Paralegal Certificate Course
Online course format student’s access will expire on the seventh Saturday of the session for Paralegal 2, regardless of when Westlaw is purchased.
Please Note: Access is required for the second half of the 14 week online course only. If you wish to have access to Westlaw for the first half of the course, you will have to purchase two subscriptions at $89 each.
Online Courses: Online Courses (excluding Paralegal Certificate Course)
Online course format student’s access will expire on the seventh Saturday of the online session.
Please Note: Westlaw subscriptions will expire on the originally scheduled end date of your online course regardless of course completion status, or the date that you purchased Westlaw.
DVD or Text-Only Format
DVD or text-only course format student’s access will expire 60 days from the date of activation.
If I drop the course at any time prior to the course end date, my Westlaw access will expire the same day that I drop the course and the $89 will not be refunded. I understand that Westlaw access is non-refundable once I have received my Westlaw access information. In the event that I exceed the usage restrictions, I will need to purchase another subscription at the $89 subscription fee.
I also understand that the Westlaw access is solely for use in completing my Center for Legal Studies course and that I will not release my password information to anyone.