Do you want to learn more about analyzing statutes and cases for a memo, brief, or research paper? If so, this interactive workshop series is for you! In this two-part series, you will learn how to research statutes and case law in the context of a specific legal question. Using the results of your research, you will then learn how to analyze these sources to answer the legal question. You will leave this series with an introduction to the skills you need for research and analysis in legal or academic writing, as well as in your professional writing.

Part 1: Researching and Analyzing Statutory Law (Wed, Feb. 23rd and Thurs, Feb. 24th). . Researching and Analyzing Statutory Law (Wed, Feb. 23rd and Thurs, Feb. 24th). In the first session, you will learn different methods for finding statutes related to the legal question presented and how to locate different sections within the broader statute. You will also learn how to retrieve secondary sources that may help advance your understanding of the statutory scheme. Finally, you’ll have the opportunity to practice these techniques. In the second session, using the results of your research from the previous session, we will walk through sections of a statute and common ways statutory language is construed by courts. You will also engage in exercises applying statutory law to factual situations.

Part 2: Researching and Analyzing Case Law (Wed, Mar. 2nd and Thurs, Mar. 4th). . In the first session, you will practice researching case law relevant to your question and making sure the cases you find are good law. You will also learn techniques for keeping track of your research so that you maintain focus on finding the cases most relevant to your research question. In the second session, you will learn how to analyze case law using one of the cases found in your research workshop. We will identify the issue(s) before the court and the applicable legal rule(s) affecting the case. You will also practice summarizing the court’s application of the rule to the facts of the case and the case holding. At the end of this workshop, you will be able to articulate the answer to the question presented.

Intended Audience: Law School Students and other and Professional School students working with statutes and case law. 

Register here.