Course Description
An in-depth examination of on-line services used to locate legal information. A significant proportion of time will be devoted to LEXIS-NEXIS. Additional time will be given to WESTLAW, LiveEdgar and the INTERNET. Prerequisites: LIS 605, LIS 617.
Textbook: Emanuel, Steven, LEXIS-NEXIS for Law Students, 3rd ed.. Larchmont, N.Y.: Emanuel Law Outlines.
Grading: You will be given 6 exercises and a Pathfinder assignment. Your grade will be based on the exercises, the Pathfinder and class room participation.
Pathfinder:
The Pathfinder will be a guide to researching a legal issue using LEXIS-NEXIS and the other sources we cover in the course of the class. A list of topics will be given out in class on November 18th. A sample pathfinder will also be available. The sources used will be confined to those available on-line.
Goals and Objectives:
Course Sessions:
I. Introduction and review of legal research methodology. 2 weeks.
II. Preview of LEXIS. Handout LEXIS-NEXIS literature. FINDLAW and Cornell sites. 1 week.
III. LEXIS demonstration and training session. LOIS site. 1 week.
IV. Review of LEXIS session. Handout WESTLAW literature. Preview of WESTLAW. 1 week.
V. WESTLAW demonstration and training session. JURIST site. 1 week.
VI. Review of WESTLAW session. Discuss differences between LEXIS and WESTLAW. HEIROS GAMOS site. 1 week.
VII. LIVEEdgar demonstration and training session. 1 week.
VIII.Review of LIVEEdgar and INTERNET financial sites. SEC site. 1 week.
IX. Distribute Pathfinder topics. Review LEXIS appendices. 1 week.
X. Review Pathfinder requirements. LEXIS query formation, library selection and secondary legal authorities. 1 week.
XI. Cases, Statutes and Administrative Law. 1 week.
XII. Specialized topics and citators. 1 week.
XII. Hand in Pathfinder. Last Class. 1 week.
Assignments:
I am missing the following assignments:
D. Gerber, #1,#2,#3 P. Marshall, #1,#2,#3,#6 G. Mondelas, #1
I can be contacted by email at SPerkins@Andromeda.Rutgers.EDU and by telephone at 973-353-5965.