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Syllabus 

Law 34 - Legal Research – 3:00 Units

   

Spring 2012  - Section 0326 

 Prof David Jordan - Read  Dear Online Student -  Study Guide and Welcome Message

 

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Distribution of Grades

Tests  is 30% of your grade

Assignments  are 30% of your grade

Final Legal Research Paperhttp://duedates.pbworks.com/law34-final-paper   = 25 % of your grade

Discussion Forums = 15% of your grade and entered at the end of the semester 

A = 90 or above

B = 80 -89

C = 70-79

D = 0-69

A grade of C or greater is required to pass the class

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Week 1 - Due 2/12/12

• Read the syllabus for the class there is no required textbook for class. If you would like a book on "Hows to Do Legal Research" - look at the Nolo Book under textbooks go to http://lamission.edu/online - and login to your class - follow the login formula athttp://profj.us/login -
• Read the Overview of Legal Research at - http://profj.us/24sp/law34/overview.htm
• Post your Introduction 
• Read Dear Online Student
• Read  "How to Study Law and post to moodle
• Read  Good Legal Writing and post to moodle
• Read The Uses of Argument and post to moodle
• Read  Analytic Thinking and post to moodle
• Read  "Character Counts" and post to moodle
• Read Differences between a "Case" and a "Code" (10 Hour Law School) and post to moodle
• Read "Recognizing Plagarism" and take the test

 

Week 2 - Due 2/19/12

• Read Primary and Secondary Legal Resources - http://profj.us/24sp/law34/primary.htm
• #1 Review California Legal Primary Resources - law34-califprimary
• #2 Review Federal Legal Primary Resources -  law34-federalprimary
• post to discussion forum

 

Week 3 - Due 2/26/12

• Read Overview of Legal Research - http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Legal_research
• #3  Malicious Prosecution case
• Test #A - Civil Rights case
•  Post the topic of your final paper
• post to discussion forum

 

Week 4 - Due 3/4/12

• Read Steps to Take in case law research -http://profj.us/24sp/law34/steps.htm
• #4  Yelling Fire case
• #5 "Constructive Possession" in Criminal Law cases
• Test #B  Crib/Manger case
• post to discussion forum

 

Week 5 - Due  3/11/12

• Read Introduction to Basic Legal Citation - http://www.law.cornell.edu/citation/index.htm
• #6  "Resolution of Conflicts" - Calif. Appellate case 
• #7 Student's Vulgar Blog
• Test #C case - Prosecutorial Misconduct
• post to discussion forum

 

Week 6 - Due 3/18/12

• Read "Developing Keywords" to do Legal Research - http://www.profj.us/keywords/
• #8 case - Alcohol related student death
• Test #D - JD Salinger and"Catcher in the Rye" 
• Test #E - Post your Research Topic for your Research Paper
• post to discussion forum

 

Week 7 - Due 3/25/12

• Read Getting Background Information - http://profj.us/25sp/law34/background.htm
• #9 case - Regulating Manufacturing of Goods  
• #10 case - Reporter's right to use a camera to record a performance and play it claiming it is news
• Test #F case - Affirmative Action   
• post to discussion forum

 

Week 8 - Due  4/1/12

• Read Refining Statement of the Legal Issue - refining legal issues
• Read How to Develop a Legal Argument - developing your legal argument
• #11 - 2nd amendment & Individual's Right to Possess a Firearm
• #12 - City employees sue based upon "race based" discrimination
• Test #G case - Is an Arbitration Clause which includes "claims for discrimination" enforceable?
• post to discussion forum
• Spring Break 4/2/12 - 4/9/12 

 

Week 9 - Due 4/15/12

• Read Finding Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations and Ordinances - http://profj.us/25sp/law34/finding.htm
• #13 case - In a Rico case, does plaintiff require standing?
• #14 case - Does police violate 4th amendment by allowing a police dog to search for an intoxicated minor?
• Test #H case - Whether an inmate poses a current threat to public safety?
• post to discussion forum

 

Week 10 - Due  4/22/12

• Read Finding cases - http://profj.us/legalnotes/findingcases.htm
• #15 case - Freedom of Information Act - exemption for "personal privacy" and corporations.
• #16 case - Use of DNA evidence to prove innocence
• Test #I - Can inmate freed after prosecutorial misconduct sue the prosecutor's office
• post to discussion forum 
  

 

Week 11 - Due  4/29/12

• Read Improve your Legal Writing - http://www.criticalreading.com/improve_writing.htm
• Read Expand and Update your Legal Research - http://www.law.harvard.edu/library/services/research/guides/grfs/basics/cases.php
• #17  Michigan Winery and "Dormant Commerce Clause"
• Test #J - post your "thesis" - law34-thesis - for your Final Research paper 
• Test #K   Puerto Rican defendants conspiracy to distribute cocaine.

• post to discussion forum

 

Week 12 - Due 5/6/12

• Read How to Write Legal Memorandums - sample - http://happybob.com/econjustice/articles/lawcmemo_snt.htm
• #18 case -  Leg iron and shackles restraints during trial
• Test #L - Develop your Strategy - http://www.library.cornell.edu/africana/faculty/asrc100_5.html and post it 
• Test #M - Post your outline of your legal research paper 
• post to discussion forum

   

Week 13  - Due 5/13/12

 

• Read How to Write Legal Memorandums - sample
• #19   Software Developers Case
• #20  State Regulation of the Bedroom
• Test #N Post your footnotes - law34-footnotes for your Final Research Paper - you must include your cases and codes upon which you support your "thesis" 
• post to discussion forum

   

Week 14 - Due 5/20/12

• Read Citing Sources at - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources
• post to discussion forum

   

Week 15 - Due 5/27/12

 

• Read How to Write an A+ Research Paper - http://www.aresearchguide.com/1steps.html
  
• Test #O - Post your Final Research Paper along with footnotes (at least 5 cases/codes cited)
• post to discussion forum
  
  

Week 16 - Due 6/3/12

• Take End of Class Survey
• What did you learn in Legal Research Class Forum
  
  updated: 3/21/12