Legal Research 101: Primary Authorities
What you'll learn
- Students will gain confidence starting a legal research project
- Students will learn how to find state and federal primary authority using print resources
- Students will learn what makes law "primary" and the importance of using primary authority in legal documents
- Students will learn basic legal terminology relevant to this course.
Requirements
- You should be able to use a computer at a beginner level
- You'll need speakers attached to your computer to listen to the audio associated with each module
Description
Few things terrify people more than having to walk into a law library and start their own legal research project. I know because as a Law Librarian I have worked with countless of people (lawyers and people who are involved in lawsuits). Most do not know where or how to start a legal research project.
The purpose of this class is to help participants become familiar with what "primary" legal resources are and how to find them using print resources.
Why "print" resources?" Simply because print resources are the basis for online resources. When you understand how print resources are organized (and how to use them),you are better able to use online materials and know what to look for.
Concepts covered in this class include how to find state and federal statutes, how to read a case citation and find case law using headnote topics and key numbers under the American Digest System, how to find state and federal regulations. Finally, you will learn (and this one is particularly important) the steps to Shepardize any state or federal statute, case law, or regulation.
Confused? Well, that's how a lot of people feel about the nature of law and legal things. As you go through this program (and those that follow), you will gain greater understanding of how law and legal things work. And the more you do, the better you will get. I Promise.
Who this course is for:
- Lawyers with 1-5 years of experience who forgot what they learned in law school about the "how" of legal research
- Lawyers with 5+ years of experience who are looking for a refresher course on the basics of legal research
- Paralegal students who need to supplement what they are learning in school about legal research
- Pro se litigants who are suing someone (or are being sued) and need an easy (and cheap) way to learn how to find legal resources
- Business owners who need to understand and find laws that affect their business.
- Anyone who is interested expanding their knowledge by learning the basics of legal research
Featured review
![Marlon Cole](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 64 64"%3E%3C/svg%3E){kind=avatar}
Course content
- Preview12:58
Instructor
- 4.8 Instructor Rating
- 44 Reviews
- 189 Students
- 2 Courses
Bret Christensen is a 16-year veteran of assisting the public as a Law Librarian. Bret earned his law degree (J.D). at Western State University College of Law, Fullerton (California) and a Master of Library and Information Science (M.L.I.S.) degree from San Jose State University (San Jose, California).
Bret speaks, writes articles, teaches, and creates media of all kinds on the topic of how to conduct research for attorneys, paralegals, pro se litigants and the general public. His blog at legalresearchiseasy is but one example of his dedication to spreading the religion that legal research really is easy and that with a little practice anyone can learn the finer techniques of the trade.