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ADVANCED RESEARCH
SYLLABUS
Section 004 Writing for Legal Scholars
Thursday, 3:00 P.M. Professor Aamot
Room 580
Welcome to Advanced Research and Writing! The goals for our class will
be:
(1) to refine your skills in researching areas subject to a complex
regulatory structure;
(2) to give you both a practical and scholarly perspective on the
process of research;
(3) to develop your knowledge of statutory and administrative processes;
(4) to provide training in specialized research sources, including
specialty reporters, loose-leaf services, computer databases, and
information available on the Internet and World Wide Web;
(5) to refine your understanding of research as a process that requires
planning and strategy;
(6) to understand the economics of research, including how to make
cost effective decisions about when to use print and on-line sources;
(7) to understand how to research non-legal sources, recalling that
in the end most cases will turn on your command of the facts as well
as the law; and,
(8) to continue the work on the process of writing. Lawyers are wordsmiths,
and a high quality work product of necessity depends on the ability
to present the results of research in a clear, well organized format.
Materials
The texts for the course will be C. Kunz, D. Schmedemann, M. Downs, and
A. Bateson, The Process of Legal Research (4th ed. 1996) (hereafter
"Kunz"), and Fajans & Falk, Scholarly Writing for Law
Students (1995). Because excellence in research and writing has so
many aspects, we will also have the benefit of instruction from representatives
of LEXIS and WestLaw, who will help to familiarize us with the range of
libraries in their databases.
Attendance
Your success as lawyers will depend on knowing how and when to utilize
every tool available to give your clients thorough and efficient answers
to their legal problems. Accordingly, your attendance at all class sessions,
including computer training sessions, is mandatory.
Assignments
During the course of the year, you will have several research exercises.
Those from the Kunz text are generally designed to ensure that you are
skilled at using particular sources. You will also have a writing assignment,
designed to help you develop as a legal scholar. Your grade will be based
on your writing project, satisfactory completion of the research exercises,
and on class attendance and participation.
In doing the research exercises, you may work in groups. In practice,
lawyers usually work together and the ability to collaborate effectively
is a skill you will need. With respect to the written assignment, please
adhere to the policies in the attached "Chicago-Kent Ethics Guidelines
for Legal Writing Courses."
I am happy to answer any questions you may have. I am available on E-Mail
("KAAMOT"), or, alternatively, you may leave a telephone message
at 847-570-9127 and I will be glad to return your call.
The following are your class assignments:
CLASS 1
January 20
Aamot
Introduction to legal scholarship. Explanation of the format
of the course. General styles of scholarly writing.
Revisiting sources of law used in analyzing complex problems,
including statutes, regulations, administrative rulings and the
CFR.
For the next class, please read Fajans & Falk, chapters 1
and 2; Rubin, the Practice and Discourse of Legal Scholarship,
86 Mich. L. Rev. 1835 (1988); and Kaye, One Judge’s View of
Academic Law Review Writing, 39 J. Legal Educ. 313 (1989)
[Note to Kari: Please feel free to delete or to add other readings
of your own choosing.]
CLASS 2
January 27
Aamot
Why are you writing? Identifying a topic and a thesis.
Introduction to the specialized tools of research and how to
use them. Loose leaf services, specialized Shepard's, specialized
treatises, etc.
Writing assignment DISTRIBUTED. Explanation of required format,
page limitations, and style considerations. Topic selection
due February 10th. Draft due April 6th.
FINAL PAPER DUE APRIL 27th at the beginning of class.
Please begin thinking about a topic, so that we can discuss your
questions at our next class. Also for the next class, please
read Kunz, Chapter 9, pp. 273-325, and Delgado, How to Write
a Law Review Article, 20 U.S.F.L. Rev. 445 (1986).
CLASS 3
February 3
Aamot
Types of legal scholarship; doctrinal analysis; theoretical scholarship;
scholarship evaluating the law's empirical effects; interdisciplinary
scholarship; using references to the arts and sciences in legal
writing. Topic selections due next week.
Library Staff
Finding and using administrative materials: the Code of Federal
Regulations, the Federal Register, and on-line sources for administrative
materials.
For the next class, please read Fajans & Falk, chapter 3.
CLASS 4
February 10
Westlaw Representative
Advanced Westlaw training in Computer Lab 760 for the first hour.
Review the fundamentals of computerized legal research in conjunction
with statutory and administrative materials. Introduction to Key
Cite. Using the special libraries in Westlaw.
Aamot
Topic selection due date.
Further discussion of the tools and methods of research used
in scholarly writing. Discuss writing assignment. Answer questions.
For the next class, please read Fajans & Falk, Chap. 4.
CLASS 5
February 17
LEXIS Representative
LEXIS training in Computer Lab 760 for the first hour. Review
of the fundamentals of LEXIS research. Using special libraries.
Aamot
Beginning the writing process: freewriting; charts; outlines;
the first draft.
Answer questions on assignment. Discussion of research exercises.
For the next class, please read Fajans & Falk, chapters
5 & 6. Also for the next class, please do Kunz, Chapter 9,
problem set 3 (p. 501), using research situation G. [Note to
Kari: Please feel free to create your own exercises for any or
all of the research assignments.]
CLASS 6
February 24
Aamot
The writing process: balancing introductory and historical discussion
with thesis development; footnotes; using authorities and the
ideas of others - some thoughts on plagiarism; keeping a research
log.
For the next class, please read Kunz, Chapter 8, pp.
231-272. Also, for the next class, please read Fajans & Falk,
chapter 7.
CLASS 7
March 2
Aamot
Writing with style.
On line Tutorial
Please do the on-line tutorial before coming to class. It is
at Simply click on the jumplink to "Legislative History."
The tutorial covers: compiling a legislative history; the legislative
process; committee hearings, reports, and other steps in the legislative
process; the significance of legislative histories in interpretation
of statutes; how to find the relevant legislative materials; and
state legislative histories.
For the next class, please do Kunz, Chapter 8, Problem
Set (pp. 481), using Research Situation G (p. 471).
March 6th through 10th - No Classes - Spring Break
CLASS 8
March 16
LEXIS Representative
Advanced LEXIS training in Computer Lab 760 for the first hour.
Honing research strategies. Using the special libraries effectively.
Finding empirical and factual data using NEXIS. Tips for efficient
and quick searches.
Library Staff
Research in the social sciences; medical and scientific research.
CLASS 9
March 23
Westlaw Representative
Advanced Westlaw training in Computer Lab 760 for the first hour.
Research strategies. Finding empirical and factual data.
For the next class, please read Kunz, Chapter 11, pp. 377-385.
CLASS 10
March 30
Library Staff
The Economics of Legal Research: Coordinating conventional and
on-line research strategies.
Empirical research. Other information sources for factual data
and statistics. Using Dow Jones.
For the next class, please do the Chapter 11 problem set beginning
on page 515, using research situation E (p. 512).
CLASS 11
April 6
Library Staff
International Legal Materials: Treaties; Executive Agreements;
IGO and NGO materials; the increasing importance of international
law in today’s legal environment.
Aamot
First draft of papers due.
CLASS 12
April 13
Aamot
No class. Conferences on the paper.
CLASS 13
April 20
Aamot
Publishing your work. The importance of publishing in practice.
CLASS 14
April 27
Aamot
WRITING ASSIGNMENT DUE AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS.
HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER VACATION!!
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