LAW4176 - Applied legal research 406

Offered

Not offered in 2007

Synopsis

Classes in legal problem-solving techniques. A guide to the theory of legal argumentation and explains how those skills can be applied for maximum benefit in dealing with legal problems. Development of students' legal research skills with emphasis on teaching students how these skills can be applied to produce efficient and accurate legal writing. Presentation and defence of a legal submission, enhancing their oral presentation skills and their ability to work with others. While print sources will be referred to, a greater emphasis will be placed on electronic sources with the resources of the Internet.

Objectives

Upon completion of this unit students should have developed

1. an ability to undertake independent legal research, both electronic and paper based;
2. an understanding of the method for location of caselaw, legislation and secondary sources together with the relevant methods and sources for updating;
3. an ability effectively and efficiently to apply the results of research to draft a variety of legal documents, including academic style papers, letters of advice and court submissions;
4. an ability to present legal arguments orally.

Assessment

Individual Research Project: 30%
Group Research Topic (written group submission: 30% and oral presentation/defence of submission: 30%): 60%
Class participation: 10%

Contact hours

Three hours per week

Prerequisites

LAW1100 or LAW1101 and LAW1102; LAW3300 or LAW3301 and LAW3302; LAW2100 or LAW2101 and LAW2102; LAW2200 or LAW2201 and LAW2202