PLA 1104 - Legal Research and Writing

College of Policy, Ethics and Legal Studies

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Fall 2024 (640)

Requisites

Pre- or Co-requisite PLA 1003 and
(Pre- or Co-requisite ENC 1101 or
Pre- or Co-requisite ENC 1101H or
Pre- or Co-requisite IDS 1101H)

Course Description

This course provides students an opportunity to gain a working knowledge of the major techniques of legal research and writing. Students will be introduced to the American Legal System, legal publications, use of legal publications, how to select the applicable law, and how to read and interpret the law. Students will complete assigned problems in legal research and will draft legal memoranda and briefs.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will describe concepts in legal research and writing by:
    1. explaining jurisdiction for both Federal and Florida courts.
    2. comparing the concepts of primary and secondary sources.
    3. distinguishing between sources of law, including rules, statutes, and court opinions.
    4. identifying legal and factual issues, given hypothetical scenarios.
  2. The student will use various legal publications in conducting research by:
    1. explaining the differences between various legal publications.
    2. describing research techniques in legal research.
    3. efficiently using the components of print and/or online legal publication(s) to explain concepts.
    4. identifying the appropriate legal publication to use, given hypothetical scenarios.
  3. The student will determine which law(s) are applicable and how they apply, given hypothetical scenarios by:
    1. researching statutory, regulatory, and case law.
    2. using techniques in legal research to determine which law(s) are applicable, given hypothetical scenarios.
    3. developing a methodology for reading and understanding legal opinions.
    4. finding and citing mandatory and persuasive authority in sample case situations.
  4. The student will compile their research and effectively communicate their research results by:
    1. interpreting and constructing citations in proper form.
    2. drafting a case brief and memorandum.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course the student will, with a minimum of 80% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

Revised 7/7/83 Revised 8/84 Revised 7/85 SCN Change 2/23/88 Effective Session 19891 Reviewed C&I 10/23/90 3 YR C&I Review 8/94 3 Yr Review 8/97 C&I 10/23/01, BOT 11/20/01 Effective yrtr 20012 (Sess II, 2001). C&I Approval: 09/12/2006, BOT Approval: 10/17/2006, Effective Term: Fall 2006 (370).
C&I Approval: 02/17/2024, BOT Approval: 03/19/2024, Effective Term: Fall 2024 (640)

Related Programs

  1. Paralegal Studies (LEGAL-CT) (580) (Active)
  2. Paralegal Studies (LEGAL-AS) (640) (Active)