This course aims to prepare law students for research in litigation practice and judicial clerkships. At the end of this class, students, now and later in their professional lives, will be able to map out a coherent plan of action when asked to research a topic previously unfamiliar to them. Students should acquire a solid knowledge of research tools and a frame of reference that enables them to function independently and competently in the complex world of legal information. Students will accomplish the following learning objectives: 1) Develop and apply tailored research strategies for common and novel legal research problems; 2) Locate, evaluate, and apply relevant and up-to-date secondary sources and primary authority to legal problems; 3) Strategically use available and developing research tools to increase research efficiency; 4) Build and maintain a research process that incorporates metacognitive practices. Learning legal research requires a hands-on approach, so students will complete in-class exercises, homework assignments, and a final research hypothetical -- all of which contribute to grading. There will not be a final exam. This course is open to Stanford graduate students with permission from the instructor.
3 units · Law Honors/Pass/Restrd Cr/Fail
This course aims to prepare law students for research in litigation practice and judicial clerkships. At the end of this class, students, now and later in their professional lives, will be able to map out a coherent plan of action when asked to research a topic previously unfamiliar to them. Students should acquire a solid knowledge of research tools and a frame of reference that enables them to function independently and competently in the complex world of legal information. Students will accomplish the following learning objectives: 1) Develop and apply tailored research strategies for common and novel legal research problems; 2) Locate, evaluate, and apply relevant and up-to-date secondary sources and primary authority to legal problems; 3) Strategically use available and developing research tools to increase research efficiency; 4) Build and maintain a research process that incorporates metacognitive practices. Learning legal research requires a hands-on approach, so students will complete in-class exercises, homework assignments, and a final research hypothetical -- all of which contribute to grading. There will not be a final exam. This course is open to Stanford graduate students with permission from the instructor.
Offered in Autumn 2025 at Stanford University.