ADVANCED LEGAL RESEARCH – LAW A549a
Winter 2013
Syllabus
https://courses.law.washington.edu/hazeltonp/A549a_Wi13/syllabus.html
Professor Penny A. Hazelton
Office Hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 10:30-11:00am or by appointment
Wm. Gates Hall Room L168; phone 206-543-4089; email pennyh@uw.edu
Teaching Assistant: Ryan Metheny; email rmetheny@uw.edu
Texts:
[1] Olson, Principles of Legal Research (West, 2009) (Olson)
[2] The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation, 19th ed. (Harvard Law Review
Association, 2010) (Bluebook)
Assignments:
Reading assignments from the texts will be given for each class. See below.
There is no final exam. Legal research is a skill. You need to practice it to improve. This
course is designed to review and build on solid research skills. You will get prompt feedback on
your work throughout the quarter. You may work together, but you must turn in your own
work unless you have been assigned to work in teams by Professor Hazelton.
For each day in class you will find: the topic for the class, the assignments that are due that
day, any reading you should have completed for the day, and new assignments.
Day
Date
Description
Tues
1/8/13
TOPIC: Overview; The Legal System and Legal Materials
READING FOR TODAY:
Olson: pp. 1-28 (Ch. 1)
ASSIGNED TODAY:
Exercise #1 - Due 1/15
Thurs 1/10/13
TOPIC: The Law Library and You
Tues
TOPIC: Secondary Sources
1/15/13
DUE TODAY:
Exercise #1. Submit paper copy in class by 8:30am today.
READING FOR TODAY:
Olson: pp. 285-288 in Ch. 8; pp. 333-378 (Ch. 10 & 11)
ASSIGNED TODAY:
Analysis of Secondary Sources [Ungraded #1] (to be done in class only) Due 1/15
Thurs 1/17/13
TOPIC: Secondary Sources (cont.); Statutes - Federal and State
READING FOR TODAY:
Olson: pp. 51-92 (Ch. 3)
ASSIGNED TODAY:
Exercise #2 - Due 1/22
CALI lesson: Introduction to State & Federal Statutes [Ungraded #2] Due 1/22
Tues
1/22/13
TOPIC: Bluebooking: Or How to Make Friends with the Bluebook
Bring Bluebook to class
DUE TODAY:
Exercise #2
CALI - Introduction to State & Federal Statutes [Ungraded #2].
READING FOR TODAY:
Bluebook: Review Table of Contents. Read completely pp. 1-27 (The
Bluepages) and study the inside back cover (pp. 512-513) of the book.
Thurs 1/24/13
TOPIC: Research Process
READING FOR TODAY:
Deskbook: pp. 23-45
ASSIGNED TODAY:
Research Problem #1 - Due 1/29
CALI Lesson: How to Find Case Law Using the Digests [Ungraded #3] Due 1/29
Page 2
Tues
1/29/13
TOPIC: Case Finding in Print; Case Verification Tools
Bring Bluebook to class
DUE TODAY:
Research Problem #1
CALI - How to Find Case Law Using the Digests [Ungraded #3].
READING FOR TODAY:
Olson: pp. 215-230 (Ch. 6); skim pp. 231-260 (Ch. 7); pp. 270-284 & 288295 (Ch. 8)
ASSIGNED TODAY:
Exercise #3 - Due 1/31
Thurs 1/31/13
TOPIC: Discuss Research Problem #1
Bring Bluebook to class
DUE TODAY:
Exercise #3. Submit paper copy in class by 8:30am today.
ASSIGNED TODAY:
Research Problem #2 - Due 2/5
Tues
2/5/13
TOPIC: Free and Low-Cost Internet Sources for Legal Research
Bring Bluebook AND laptop to class
DUE TODAY:
Research Problem #2
READING FOR TODAY:
Browse through contents of Low-Cost legal Research Services on the web
http://lib.law.washington.edu/ref/lowcostcalr.html
Georgetown University Law Library: Free and Low Cost Legal Research:
http://www.ll.georgetown.edu/guides/freelowcost.cfm
Free Law Online, available at
http://lib.law.washington.edu/research/research.html
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Internet Legal Resources, available at
http://lib.law.washington.edu/research/research.html
ASSIGNED TODAY:
Exercise #4 - Due 2/12
HANDOUT TODAY:
Bluebook Exercise with Answers
Thurs 2/7/13
TOPIC: Discuss Research Problem #2
Bring Bluebook to class
Tues
2/12/13
TOPIC: Free and Low-Cost Internet Sources for Legal Research (cont.)
Bring Laptop to Class
DUE TODAY:
Exercise #4. Hand in paper copy at 8:30am in class today.
Thurs 2/14/13
TOPIC: Query Formulation and other Electronic Search Tips
Bring Laptop to Class
ASSIGNED TODAY:
Research Problem #3 - Due 2/21
Tues
2/19/13
TOPIC: Advanced Westlaw Training
Bring Laptop to Class
Thurs 2/21/13
TOPIC: Advanced LexisNexis Training
Handout: Lexis Advance Available Content
Bring Laptop to Class
DUE TODAY:
Research Problem #3. Post to Collect It by 8:30am.
READING FOR TODAY:
Deskbook: skim Ch. 4, pp. 93-133
Page 4
Tues
2/26/13
TOPIC: Discuss Research Problem #3
ASSIGNED TODAY:
Research Problem #4 - Due 3/5
Thurs 2/28/13
TOPIC: Legislative History - Federal and State
READING FOR TODAY:
Olson: pp. 109-147 (Ch. 4)
Deskbook: pp. 155-165 Legislative History and Bill Tracking (Ch. 6)
ASSIGNED TODAY:
CALI Lesson: Researching Federal Legislative History [Ungraded #4] –
Due 3/5
Tues
3/5/13
TOPIC: Legislative History (cont.); Court Rules
Powerpoint: Washington Legislative History
DUE TODAY:
Research Problem #4. Hand in paper copy at 8:30am in class today.
CALI - Researching Federal Legislative History [Ungraded #4].
READING FOR TODAY:
Olson: pp. 309-332 (Ch. 9)
Deskbook: pp. 62-64 (Ch. 3)
ASSIGNED TODAY:
Exercise #5 - Due 3/12
Thurs
TOPIC: Administrative Law; Specialized Legal Research
READING FOR TODAY:
Olson: pp. 160-204 (Ch. 5)
Deskbook: pp. 64-69 (Ch. 3); pp. 135-154 (Ch. 5)
Page 5
Tues
3/12/13
[Last Class]
TOPIC: Discuss Research Problem #4; Wrap-up; Evaluation
DUE TODAY
Exercise #5 - Submit to Collect It Dropbox by 8:30am today. Word
document only.
READING FOR TODAY:
Review the contents of the Gallagher Law Library's "Find It" section:
http://lib.law.washington.edu. Particularly look at the 'Databases' and
'Research Guides' sections.
Advice to 1Ls (collected in class 3/12/13)
If you would like to request academic accommodations due to a disability, please contact
Disabled Student Services, 448 Schmitz, 543-8924 (V/TDD). If you have a letter from Disabled
Student Services indicating you have a disability that requires academic accommodations, please
present the letter to me so we can discuss the accommodations you might need for class.
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