About this Course
Thorough research, excellent writing and careful analysis are integral components of legal work. As Bryan Garner notes in The Winning Brief, “Good writing can win cases, and bad writing can lose them.” Finding the law, stating it, and applying it clearly and correctly is the pathway to success in the practice of law.
This course deals with the fundamentals of legal research, writing and analysis, along with the skills needed to communicate effectively in legal matters. You’ll be introduced to the principles of good legal writing, commonly used legal research sources, the formats of legal memoranda, and proper legal citation. You’ll also gain hands-on experience using Westlaw Precision with AI, exploring how emerging legal research technologies can enhance accuracy, efficiency and analytical insight. This integration of AI-assisted tools will help you develop the confidence to leverage advanced research methods in real-world legal practice. You’ll discover that writing is not only a communication tool, but also an essential part of developing the analytical skills necessary to practicing law.
What You’ll Learn
- Ways to locate and use the standard legal research materials for Washington state, both in the library and online
- The basics of using Westlaw, Westlaw Precision with AI, and other computer-assisted legal research tools
- Techniques for analyzing statutory and case authority and applying it to a given fact pattern
- How to prepare objective legal memoranda
- Methods for citing commonly used legal materials applying The Bluebook and Washington Style Sheet rules