TENTATIVE COURSE CALENDAR (subject to change upon notice)
(Each MODULE accounts for one week per the 14 week semester with specific dates relating to each MODULE and due dates for assignments, discussions, projects, and exam to be found under the MODULES tab)
FIRST WEEK OF CLASS
(Introductions; Course Overview; Syllabus; Pre-Course Assessment)
MODULE ONE: THE LAW and ITS PRIMARY SOURCES
- Reading: Chapter 1. Law and Sources of Law.
- Reading: Chapter 5. Primary Sources: Constitutions, Statutes, Court Rules, and Administrative Law.
- Additional Materials: Powerpoints - Constitution, Statutes & Statutory Analysis, and Regulations
- HOMEWORK QUIZ
- MODULE 1 DISCUSSION
MODULE TWO: Primary Sources of Law (cont'd); The Judicial Branch and Case Law
- Reading: Chapter 4. The Judicial Branch and Cases
- Additional Materials: Powerpoint - Court Opinions - Opinions & Elements of a Case Brief
- Assignment of Legal Teams for Group Projects
- HOMEWORK QUIZ
- MODULE 2 DISCUSSION
MODULE THREE: Secondary Sources of the Law; Finding Tools; Citators; Legal Hierarchy & Classifications; Conflict of Laws
- Reading: Chapter 3. Secondary Sources and Finding Tools.
- Reading: Chapter 6. Citators.
- Additional Materials: Powerpoints – Secondary Sources & Finding Tools, KeyCite Information w/Lexis-Nexis, Conflict of Laws
- HOMEWORK QUIZ
- MODULE 3 DISCUSSION
MODULE FOUR: Legal Citations and Use of the BLUEBOOK
- Readings: Portions of Chapters One, Three, Four, Five, & Six Regarding Citations of Primary and Secondary Authority
- Readings: Appendix B. Locating and Citing to Cases
- Readings: Appendix C. Rules for Quotations and Short-Form Citations
- Additional Materials: Powerpoints - Bluebook Citations, Court Abbreviations.
- HOMEWORK QUIZ
- MODULE 4 DISCUSSION
MODULE FIVE: Citation Exercises
- CITATION EXERCISES ASSIGNMENT
MODULE SIX: Computer-Assisted Legal Research (CALR)
- Reading: Chapter 8. Computer-Assisted Legal Research.
- Reading: Appendix F. Internet Technology
- Reading: Appendix G. Legal Research Starting Points and Web Search Tools
- Reading: Appendix H. Federal Law Web Resources
- Reading: Appendix I. State and Municipal Government Law Web Resources
- Reading: Appendix J. International Law Web Resources
- Review of Lexis Nexis from SUU Library Site
- Additional Materials: Powerpoint – Legal Research Online
- COMPUTER (CALR) EXERCISES ASSIGNMENT
MODULE SEVEN: Legal Reasoning & Analysis/Case Briefing
- Reading: Chapter 2. Legal Reasoning and Analysis.
- Reading: Chapter 4. The Judicial Branch and Cases (pages 122-124 re CASE BRIEFING)
- Review of MODULE TWO Readings/ PowerPoint on Case Briefing and IRAC Method of Legal Analysis
- Additional Materials: Powerpoints – Elements of a Case Brief, Case Brief/IRAC Format
- PROJECT ONE: “DRAFT” CASE BRIEF DUE
MODULE EIGHT: Research and Ethics
- Reading: Chapter 7. Overview of the Research Process and Ethical Considerations.
- Additional Materials: Powerpoint - Case Law Research Considerations & Citators
- Legal Analysis and Legal Writing
- hypothetical fact scenario to be used in future writing projects
- PROJECT ONE: CASE BRIEF ASSIGNMENT DUE
MODULE NINE: Legal Research Journal
- Reading: Module 9 Information
- Overview of Research Journal Project
- hypothetical fact scenario to be used
- MODULE 9 HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
- PROJECT TWO: RESEARCH JOURNAL
MODULE TEN: Fundamentals of Writing; Legal Writing Introduction; Law Office Memorandum
- Reading: Chapter 9. Introduction to Legal Writing.
- Reading: Chapter 10. Fundamentals of Writing.
- Reading: Appendix D. Mechanical Errors
- Reading: Chapter 13. Law Office Memo
- Additional Materials: Powerpoints – Rule of Law/Case Synthesis, Legal Memorandum Information
- MODULE 10 HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT
- OPTIONAL – ROAD MAP TEMPLATE FOR LAW OFFICE MEMO (EXTRA CREDIT)
- PROJECT THREE: LAW OFFICE MEMORANDUM
MODULE ELEVEN: Transmittal Letter, Client Opinion Letter, E-Mail Correspondence, and Pleadings
- Reading: Chapter 11. Transmittal Letter, Client Opinion Letter, and E-Mail Correspondence
- Reading: Chapter 12. Pleadings
- Reading: Chapter 14. Memorandum of Law
MODULE TWELVE: Appellate Brief
- Reading: Chapter 15. Appellate Brief
- Additional Materials: How to Cite to Lower Court Record & Documents
- Overview of Appellate Brief Project
MODULE THIRTEEN: Appellate Brief (continued)
- DRAFT OF PROJECT FOUR: APPELLATE BRIEF DUE
MODULE FOURTEEN: Final Appellate Brief & End of Course
- Additional Information: Final Overview of LEGL 2000
- FINAL - PROJECT FOUR: APPELLATE BRIEF
- FINAL DISCUSSION POST