Thompson, Teresa Ann

English

University of Montana

University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Syllabi Course Syllabi Fall 9-1-2006 LEG 286T.02: Legal Research and Writing II Teresa Ann Thompson University of Montana - Missoula, teresa.thompson@mso.umt.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi Let us know how access to this document benefits you. Recommended Citation Thompson, Teresa Ann, "LEG 286T.02: Legal Research and Writing II" (2006). Syllabi. 10644. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/syllabi/10644 This Syllabus is brought to you for free and open access by the Course Syllabi at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Syllabi by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact scholarworks@mso.umt.edu.  1 UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY Student Syllabus for Legal Research and Writing II  COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE: T 286-02, Legal Research and Writing II Meeting times: Wednesday, 3:10 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  We will meet at the law school in Room 182, unless notified otherwise. REVISED: August 2006 PREREQUISITE: Legal Research and Writing II  INSTRUCTOR NAME, E-MAIL ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, OFFICE LOCATION, OFFICE HOURS: Teresa Thompson, teresa.thompson@mos.umt.edu; 406-544-2847, 121 Hickory Street, Suite 3, Missoula, Montana  59801.  Office hours by appointment.   COURSE DESCRIPTION: Advanced legal research and writing with emphasis on drafting and composing legal memoranda; legal research skills and development of legal writing ability.  COURSE OBJECTIVES: Students will be able to: (1) conduct advanced legal research; (2) interpret research findings such as constitutions, statutes and case law; (3) synthesize research findings into legal memoranda; (4) draft all elements of legal memoranda including Issues, Brief Answers, Facts, Discussion, and Conclusion; (5) verify and validate research findings; (6) conduct legal research with computerized assistance through such services as LEXIS and WestLaw.  STUDENT PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT METHODS AND GRADING PROCEDURES: Students will be graded in three areas:  Attendance/Class Participation: 28%**  Class assignments and Quizzes: 22%  Final Examination/Final Memorandum: 50% Grade Scale: A: 100-90% B: 80-89% C: 70-79% D: 60-69% F: 60% and below  Assignments: Due dates for writing assignments will be given at the time the assignment is given.  Assignments are due on the date provided.  Late assignments will be given no credit.  If a student cannot meet a deadline/due date, contact the instructor immediately for further instruction.  Do not wait until the due date to seek an extension of time for assignment completion as one will not be given.  Further, ALWAYS KEEP A COPY OF YOUR ASSIGNMENT.   **attendance is rewarded with 2 points for each of the 14 classes attended = 28% of your final grade    2 REQUIRED TEXT: The Legal Research and Writing Handbook, Third Edition  Authors: Samborn and Yelin  Publisher: Little, Brown and Company  SUGGESTED REFERENCE MATERIALS:  As announced or distributed by the instructor  FALL 2005 CALENDAR:  Week 1   Wednesday: August 30, 2006  Introduction  Review of Syllabus  General Review of Skills Learned in Legal Research and Writing I  Brief overview of Legal Research and Writing II *Assignment:  Review Chapters 1 & 2: Intro to Legal Research and What Law Governs  Week 2   Wednesday: September 6, 2006 Discussion of Chapters 1 and 2 Review of Federal and State Government and their Court Systems; Jurisdiction, primary          and secondary authority, research strategies  *Quiz - 6 questions relating to chapters 1 and 2 Research Assignment in Jamison Law Library *Assignment:  Review Chapter 3:  Court Decisions  Week 3   Wednesday: September 13, 2006  Discussion of Chapter 3: Court Decisions  Treasure Hunt per exercises on page 88  *Assignment:  Review Chapter 4: Validating  Week 4   Wednesday: September 20, 2006  Discussion of Chapter 4: Validating  In Class use of Shepard's as a validating tool; and also as a research tool  *Quiz - 6 questions relating to chapters 3 and 4  *Assignment:  Review Chapter 5: Secondary Authority  Week 5   Wednesday: September 27, 2006 Discussion of Chapter 5: Secondary Authority Selection of topic for Memorandum  In class research of general topic in various sources of Secondary Authority  One-to-one consultation with instructor regarding memorandum topic  *Assignment:  Review Chapter 6: Constitutions and Statutes  Week 6  Wednesday: October 4, 2006  Discussion of Chapter 6: Constitutions and Statutes  Review of topic selection and narrowing the topic to manageable size  In class research to determine whether topic involves a constitutional or statutory issue  *Quiz - 6 questions relating to chapters 5 and 6  *Assignment:  Review Chapters 14 & 19: Research Strategy and The Legal Memorandum   3 Week 7   Wednesday:  October 11, 2006  Review of Chapters 14 and 19: Research Strategy and The Legal Memorandum  Refining the memorandum topic and framing the issue or "Question Presented"  One-to-one consultation with instructor regarding memorandum topic and issue In class research in law reviews, restatements, treatises, codes, and citators *Assignment: Prepare first draft of Question Presented;  Review Chapters 15 and 20: Getting Ready to Write, and Questions Presented and Conclusions or Brief Answers  Week 8   Wednesday: October 18, 2006 Discussion of Chapters 15 and 20: Getting Ready to Write, and Questions Presented and           Conclusions or Brief Answers In class - independent research in law library - primary and secondary authority One-to-one consultation with instructor regarding Question Presented and research strategy *Quiz - 8 questions relating to chapters 15 and 20 *Assignment: Review Chapters 18 and 21: Anatomy of a Case Brief and Facts  Week 9    Wednesday: October 25, 2006 Discussion of Chapters 18 and 21: Anatomy of a Case Brief and Facts In class - team research of case law; defining and finding dicta; understanding head notes Discussion of methods for finding and synthesizing relevant case law; researching and       revising; identifying legally significant facts and rules of law and holdings   *Assignment: Prepare first draft of Facts section of memo;  Review chapters 22        and 23: Synthesizing Cases and Authorities and The IRAC Method  Week 10    Wednesday: November 1, 2005 Discussion of Chapters 22 and 23:  Synthesizing Cases and Authorities, and         The IRAC Method Discussion of legally Significant Facts, facts v. conclusions  In class - independent research of primary and secondary authority relating to memo    One-to-one consultation with instructor regarding Facts section, writing style, and           research strategy  *Quiz - 6 questions relating to chapters 22 and 23  * Assignment:  Review Chapter 24, Outlining and Organizing a Memorandum  Week 11    Wednesday: November 8, 2006  Discussion of Chapter 24:  Outlining and Organizing a Memorandum Review of the Memo components: Question Present, Brief Answer, Facts, Discussion          and Conclusion In class independent research and one-to-one consultation re: applicable   *Assignment: Prepare Second Draft of Question Presented, First Draft of Brief            Answer, Second Draft of Facts and outline of authority for Discussion section   Week 12     Wednesday: November15, 2006  Discussion of use of Shepard's & other citators to check research strategy; ALWD manual  In class independent research and one-to-one consultation regarding Question, Brief       Answer, Facts, and outline of authority   *Quiz - 6 questions relating to ALWD manual and citation to authority  *Assignment:  Prepare first draft of Discussion section of memo  Review chapters 16 and 17:  Editing and Writing Basics  4  Week 13     Wednesday: November 22, 2006   NO CLASS - THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY   Week 14    Wednesday:  November 29, 2006 Review Chapters 16 and 17:  Editing and Writing Basics; further discussion related to          citation to authority, use of quotations, parallel citation, and use of ALWD manual  In class independent research and one-to-one consultation with instructor regarding first           draft of Discussion  section  *Quiz - 6 questions relating to chapters 16 and 17 *Assignment: Second Draft of Discussion section; first draft of Conclusion and put all           together into First Draft of Entire Memorandum   Week 15     Wednesday: December 6, 2006  First Draft of Entire Memorandum Due  One-to-one consultation with instructor for review of Entire Memorandum     Additional Information: If any student requires special consideration for any reason, it is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructor to discuss the matter prior to any situation that may give rise to the special consideration requested.  “Make-up” tests or quizzes will not be given without prior notice to the instructor.  Again, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor at least one hour prior to any anticipated missed test or quiz.  At that time a decision will be made as to what action, if any, can be taken to remedy the conflict.  Note: The instructor reserves the right to amend or alter this syllabus in any form at any time.  

LEG 286T.02: Legal Research and Writing II

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LEG 286T.02: Legal Research and Writing II

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