CCOG for PL 202 Fall 2024
- Course Number:
- PL 202
- Course Title:
- Computer Research in Law
- Credit Hours:
- 3
- Lecture Hours:
- 30
- Lecture/Lab Hours:
- 0
- Lab Hours:
- 0
Course Description
Covers how and when to use computers for legal research. Explores operational content differences between Fast Case and Lexis. Includes retrieving specific documents, checking citations, and practice research. Prerequisites: PL 201. Audit available.
Intended Outcomes for the course
Upon completion of the course students should be able to:
- Formulate searches, utilize results, and evaluate the usefulness of Boolean logic, terminology searches, and other computer legal research techniques.
- Locate legal resources with research finding tools.
- Evaluate reliability of internet web sites and conduct basic legal research within financial costs and constraints.
- Use terminology and citation formats with basic legal research resources
Outcome Assessment Strategies
Assessment strategies may include: research assignments, class attendance and participation, midterm exam, final exam, various research projects; homework assignments; and other comparable assignments.
Related Instruction
Computation
Hours: 40- Formulate searches, utilize results, and evaluate the usefulness of Boolean logic, terminology searches, and other computer legal research techniques.
- Evaluate reliability of internet web sites and conduct basic legal research within financial costs and constraints.
Course activities include:
- explanation, discussion, use of and assignments with Boolean search connectors and searches using these techniques;
- google search basics;
- use of Lexis;
- basic searches using party names, subjects and cites;
- discussion and application of Fastcase;
- state and federal agency webpage research projects and assignments; OJIN research techniques;
- Shepards federal citations; and other comparable content.