Legal Research and Writing

The two-credit Legal Research and Writing seminar is specifically designed to introduce foreign-trained lawyers to the basic principles of American legal writing. In small class settings and individual conferences, students receive guidance on drafting and editing memoranda and agreements. Their work is critiqued and rewritten. The research component of the seminar trains students to locate cases, statutes and secondary material through indexing systems and the latest computer technology. Research assignments are integrated into writing assignments—exposing students to the methods of US legal analyses—so that by the end of the term, students obtain the skills needed to write memoranda appropriate for submission to US law firms.

The LLM Writing Seminar is supervised by Director Maureen Tracy Leo, who has taught legal research and writing for over two decades. Director Leo’s office is located in Suite 802.

Materials and Notices

All course materials, announcements, and assignments will be posted on Blackboard. Students are responsible for checking Blackboard regularly for course announcements, class schedules, room changes, assignment instructions, supplemental materials, and messages from instructors.

Required textbooks, research materials, handouts, and any additional course resources will also be available through Blackboard or identified in the syllabus. Students are expected to obtain all required course materials before the applicable class session and to complete assigned readings and other work by the deadlines provided.

Schedule

You will receive your class section assignment at orientation. Seminar schedules will be posted each week on the Blackboard site for the class (AM704).

Library Research and Writing Classes

The library research classes introduce students to the fundamentals of legal research in the United States legal system, including the responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence. The classes model the research process, beginning with secondary sources, moving to statutes, and concluding with cases.

All classes integrate print, electronic, and AI-assisted research through hands-on exercises emphasizing accuracy, efficiency, professional judgment, and the ethical use of emerging technologies.

Please Note: Attendance at all library research classes is required. Students will be assessed on their mastery of legal research skills through a series of research quizzes and related assessments. If you are unable to attend a library session because of a scheduling conflict or other approved reason, you must notify your Legal Research and Writing instructor as soon as possible to arrange a makeup session. Students are responsible for completing all library instruction, quizzes, and assessments within the time established by their instructor.