LEGAL 210 - Legal Research and Writing

1. Identify whether a resource is a primary or secondary authority, or a legal practice aid.
2. Conduct legal research using both hardbound volumes and online database services.
3. Use codes to locate relevant state and federal constitutions, statutes, and agency rules.
4. Use court reporters and case digests to locate relevant state and federal case law.
5. Use legal encyclopedias, annotated law reports, legal periodicals, and other secondary authorities effectively.
6. Prepare accurate legal citations in compliance with The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation and the Washington Style Sheet.
7. Use hardbound and online citators to determine whether conclusions of cases have been followed, overturned, or modified.
8. Exercise effective strategies to organize and perform legal research and writing projects.
9. Draft documents using the standard components for legal correspondence, opinion letters, and legal memoranda.
10. Prepare legal documents using correct English grammar in a tone and style appropriate for the intended recipient.
11. Use word processing software to format professional quality legal documents.
12. Demonstrate an awareness of the ethical rules of competence, confidentiality, and the unauthorized practice of law when performing research and writing tasks as a paralegal.