Course Information

Enroll

Duration:
7 weeks

Program Modality:
Online

Cost:
$1,295

Dates:
May 5 - June 20, 2025

Notes:

This course requires an average of about 9 hours per week for reading and completing assignments.

Students requiring accommodation should contact our office at pewd@utrgv.edu to learn about the process.

Advanced Legal Research and Writing Certificate Course

This course is designed to thoroughly examine advanced and specialized approaches to utilizing legal resources available in law libraries and online.
Key topics include:

• Conceptual differences between computer-assisted legal research and hard copy research.
• Formulating WESTLAW search queries.
• Efficiently using WESTLAW and other online legal research methods as timesaving devices in legal research and writing.

This program is provided in partnership with Center for Legal Studies (CLS), a BARBRI company, a leading continuing education company.

logo of Center for Legal Studies


Details:


After successfully completing the tests and assignments for the course, students will be able to:
• Conduct manual legal research
• Conduct electronic legal research
• Find, interpret, and use various types of legal authorities
• Demonstrate how to Shepardize legal authorities
• Write a legal analysis
• Prepare a Memorandum of Law
• Brief case opinions
• Demonstrate various types of legal writing

You will be expected to spend approximately 9 hours per lesson reading and completing writing assignments. Extensions will not be granted. A minimum passing score of 70% is required on all tests and assignments. Students may consider working ahead in the curriculum if they have the time.

Successful completion of Paralegal Certificate Course, Part I (Paralegal 1 & 2), or the equivalent, or law office experience.

Required textbooks for this course:

  • Legal Research, Analysis and Writing, 5th edition by William H. Putnam
  • Legal Research Methods, 2nd Edition by Michael D. Murray and Christy H. DeSanctis
  • WESTLAW, online legal research access, available for the duration of the course for only $89.00. Order Online

Highly Recommended Legal Resources:

  • Gilbert Pocket Size Law Dictionary, 3rd Edition. West Academic.

Your final grade will be determined as follows:

  • The five practical application exercises comprise 40% of your grade.
  • The three writing assignments comprise 40% of your grade.
  • Your participation in class participation assignments comprises 20% of your grade.

Note: If you are applying for the Continuing Education Private Loan to cover the registration fee for a non-credit continuing education program, then please use the UTRGV Continuing Education School Code: 003599. The loan amount you note in the application cannot exceed the open enrollment fee noted on our website. Books will NOT be included in the loan amount. The minimum for the loans must be $500.00. Some service charges may apply.

*The only loan provider PEWD accepts is Sallie Mae*

Private Loans

 

Submit a required written request via email three business days before the program start date. Weekends are not considered. Partial refunds are not allowed.



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