US LEGL ANALYSIS, RSRCH & WRTG (US LEGL STUDIES FOREIGN LW GRD - 1010)
3 credits
During the fall semester, LL.M. candidates will learn how to efficiently research complex questions of U.S. law and write memoranda that explain the results of their research. Students will be introduced both to core research materials, such as case reports and annotated codes, and to more sophisticated techniques, such as using federal and state administrative materials, legislative histories, on-line research, law review articles, and legal databases. Besides researching questions of law, the LL.M. candidates will also learn how to explain the results of their research in the forms of U.S. legal writing, including memoranda of law. An emphasis will be placed on the characteristics of effective writing. Grades will be based upon periodic research assignments, analytical essays on topics of common law and statutory interpretation, a research memoranda of law, and a rewrite of the memorandum. Contract negotiations will also be covered as a non-graded exercise. Students will be asked to work on certain assignments collaboratively with other students to simulate practice experience.
Robin A. Boyle Laisure
Barbara G. Traub