Course Detail
LA 204 Legal Research/Writing ILA 204 IS Sec 1, University of Mississippi 3 credit hours |
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Instructor Information: |
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Instructor name: Melissa Jones, MBA, JD, EdD Instructor Information: Melissa Jones is the Associate Director for the Lott Leadership Institute and an Adjunct Professor in the School of Applied Sciences. Melissa is a first-generation college graduate and understands the competing priorities of managing family, education, and career. She received her MBA with a specialization in Human Resources from the New York Institute of Technology, her Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law, and her EdD in higher education from the University of Mississippi. Melissa is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association. Throughout her career, Melissa has worked in the insurance and healthcare arenas as well as representing clients in private practice and in the corporate arena as in-house counsel. She joined the Trent Lott Leadership Institute in 2017 and also teaches multiple courses in legal studies and criminal justice. |
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Contact Information: |
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If you have questions concerning the content of the course, you may contact the instructor directly using the Email Your Instructor link in the Lessons or Content page. NOTE: Whenever sending email, please be sure to indicate your course title and number in the subject line. You can expect a response within 72 hours, although it may be longer on weekends. Many instructors reply within 24 hours. For lesson or test administration issues, please contact the iStudy department: The University of Mississippi Phone: (662) 915-7313, toll-free (877) 915-7313 |
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Course Description |
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This course covers the basics of legal research, legal writing, and legal analysis. |
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Textbook Information: |
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Textbook information will be provided upon enrollment in your iStudy course. |
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Course Objectives: |
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Upon successful completion of this course, students are expected to:
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Course Outline: |
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This course consists of 15 instructional modules (or lessons). Please note that the suggested Pacing Guide to complete the course in a traditional semester is written for Fall and Spring. Full summer students need to make adjustments due to the significantly shorter time period involved. |
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Lesson | Reading Assignments | Due for Grades | Suggested Pacing Guide to complete the course in a traditional semester. Summer session students will need to make adjustments due to the shorter time period | |
Start Here | You MUST complete the syllabus quiz as soon as you have access to your Blackboard course. This is mandatory to verify your attendance. NOTE: You must pass the Syllabus and Orientation Quiz for the course materials to appear on the Lessons page. | Syllabus Quiz | Week 1 | |
0 | Introduction Please note - there will be supplemental videos/lectures in later chapters beginning for week 10. You will find significant take-aways in those supplements. |
Discussion board | Week 1 | |
1 | Chapter 1 - Introduction to Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis Appendix H - U.S. Court System | Answer Citation Exercises page 17. (5 points) | Week 1 | |
2 | Chapter 2 - The Starting Point: Analyzing Facts and Identifying Legal Issues Chapter 3 - Finding and Analyzing Case Law | Answer Citation Exercises page 76 (#1-2 only). (5 points) | Week 2 | |
3 | Chapter 4 - How to Brief a Case Appendix E - Case Briefing Practice | Answer Questions for Review page 101 (#1-4). (5 points) | Week 3 | |
4 | TEST 1 (Chp. 1-4) | Timed test (10 points) To be scheduled and completed before proceeding |
Week 4 | |
5 | Chapter 5 - Constitutions, Statutes, and Administrative Regulations Chapter 6 - Statutory and Constitutional Analysis | Answer Citation Exercises page 137 (#1-4) AND Complete Analysis and Writing Assignments page 167 (#1-2). 5 points | Week 5 | |
6 | Chapter 7 - Secondary Sources Chapter 8 - Digests | Complete Online Research Exercises p. 210 (#4). (5 points) | Week 6 | |
7 | Chapter 9 - Validating Your Research: Using Shepard's, KeyCite, and Other Citators Appendix D - Research Strategies: An Overview | Week 7 | ||
MIDPOINT OF COURSE | If you are a semester student, you must reach the midpoint of your course by the date specified in your information. If you are a Flex UM student, you CANNOT WITHDRAW from this course after the lesson has been submitted. |
All lesson assignments or exams needed to reach the midpoint of the course | The exact date semester students are required to reach the midpoint is specified in your information. | |
8 | TEST 2 (Chp. 5-9) | Timed test (10 points) To be scheduled and completed before proceeding |
Week 8 | |
9 | Chapter 10 and 11 - Introduction to Lexis Advance, Westlaw and Boomberg Law Computer-Assisted Legal Research (CALR): The Freely Accessible Internet |
Week 9 | ||
10 | Chapter 12 - Basic Legal Writing Tools Chapter 13 - Predictive Legal Writing: The Memorandum of Law | Can You Figure it Out page 394 (#1) (5 points) | Week 10 | |
11 | Interoffice Memorandum (Memorandum of Law) Supplemental Video | 5 points | Week 11 | |
12 | Interoffice Memorandum (Part 1 Revisions) Supplemental Video | 5 points | Week 12 | |
13 | Interoffice Memorandum (Part II Updates and Introduction) Supplemental Video | 10 points | Week 13 | |
14 | Interoffice Memorandum (Part III) Supplemental Video | 10 points | Week 14 | |
15 | Course Review | Week 15 | ||
Final Exam | Comprehensive exam from all chapters (ensure all work is completed and graded prior to scheduling this exam) | To be completed to finalize credit (20 points) |
Week 16 | |
Grading: |
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The grading scale is as follows: FAILURE TO TAKE THE FINAL EXAM WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE COURSE. You must submit the lessons required to take the course exam(s). Lessons required but not submitted will receive a grade of zero. For the final exam, all coursework must be submitted and graded. |