FACULTY OF LAW

LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING (LAW 501) COURSE OUTLINE

GENERAL COURSE OUTLINE

This course will provide a comprehensive approach to legal research and writing for the law student.
It will focus on providing thematic and practical mechanisms to equip the student of law with strong
research and writing capabilities that will advance the academic, policy, and legal potential of the
student. the course will consist of interactive lecture sessions, where thematic issues relating to
grammar, syntax and general writing structure will be discussed, as well as practical exercises that
will encourage students to produce writing samples based on taught lessons.

AIMS

The course aims to provide a detailed and analytical understanding of writing precepts, rules of
grammar and syntax, as well as enhanced readability for academic, policy and mainstream legal
works. The course will provide:

• a practical guide to basic rules in grammar and writing

• a comprehensive discussion of the rules of academic writing, including citation guides and
conventional formatting criteria
• a discussion of research methods and means of acquiring and applying in-depth research
skills
• an analysis of available tools for research and writing, including digital tools, and a detailed
description of how to use these tools

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The course will provide relevant reading material, which would include classroom and take-home
exercises; it will also consist of lecture sessions that will encourage rich dialogue and discussions
between students and instructors, and at the end of the course students should be able to

• exhibit an impressive understanding of the rudiments of legal writing and research

• apply basic rules relating to grammar, style, structure and content
• conduct functional paper and electronic research on any matter relating to law
• apply the theories and principles which they have been taught to practical exercises in
research and writing
• produce essays and other legal materials that meet the highest academic standards and
quality
• provide critical analyses of legal and policy issues, and express ideas in a professional manner
LECTURE ARRANGEMENTS, POLICIES AND ASSESSMENT METHODS

Weekly lectures will consist of discussions of pre-distributed outlines of the relevant topic, which
will serve as guides for the discussion. Lectures will be interactive, and although discussions will aim
to cover other issues not contained in the lecture outline, the outline will form the foundational basis
for lectures. The first 45 minutes/1 hour of the lecture will consist of a teaching session where the
instructor will discuss the content of the outline, while the remaining lecture time will consist of an
interactive session, with active participation in practical exercises from both students and
instructors.

Attendance at lectures is important, and a list of registered students will be used to record
attendance at every lecture. Based on university policy, any student who misses more than 75% of
lectures will not be allowed to sit for examinations. Punctuality is also important, and any student
who is more than 15 minutes late to class will not be allowed to attend that class, and will be marked
absent.

Mobile phones must be switched off or set to silent mode, and must not be used to make calls, send
or receive SMS, or play games during lectures. Students whose cell phone ringers go off during
lectures may be asked to leave the class, and will be considered absent.

Students will be graded based on a mid-semester assessment test and practical class exercises, the
result of which will account for 50% of the student’s final grade, and an end-of-semester examination,
the result of which will account for 50% of the final grade. Students are only entitled to a make-up
test at the discretion of the instructor, and there will be no opportunities for make-up examinations.

RECOMMENDED TEXTS

Although students will be provided with topic outlines before class, they will be expected to fill in the
details by consulting reading material, and may use two or more of the under-listed texts to prepare
for lectures. It is important to use more than one resource material in order to get different
perspectives on a topic. A good recommendation is to use one British and one American writer
(usually this can be deciphered from the place of publication), so that the student can acquire an
appreciation for diverse writing styles in different jurisdictions. For Nigerian students and
researchers, British books, particularly for legal research, would be more effective, since they cover
familiar subject matter and processes with regard to legal systems and practice.

Most of these texts are not available in the Nigerian market, and may not be accessible to students,
so students will be provided with material to support the classroom exercises. Nevertheless, these
texts will form the basis of note and lecture preparations.

Andrea B. Yelin and Hope Viner Samborn, The Legal Research and Writing Handbook: A Basic
Approach for Paralegals (New York, Aspen Publishers 2009)

This book provides a very thorough guide for the legal researcher in practice, covering issues from case
reporting to drafting legal memos and conducting online research to describing relevant government
structures and how they affect legal practice. It provides the paralegal with the skills necessary for
conducting research in the course of legal practice. However, it is centred on American legal system, and
provides a guide that is peculiar to that system, which would make it a suitable comparative guide, but
not very practical for the Nigerian student, researcher, or lawyer.

Carol Ellison, McGraw-Hill’s Concise Guide to Writing Research Papers (e-book, McGraw Hill
Professional 2010)

This book provides a general guide to addressing the research and writing process for the student of any
discipline. It teaches basic skills such as topic selection, thesis development, internet searching and
critical reading, amongst others.

Dominic Wyse, The Good Writing Guide for Education Students (London, Sage Publications Ltd
2006, 2007)

Although the title refers to Education students, this text provides a particularly interesting guide that
would be relevant to students in all fields, especially as a basic guide for research and writing. It is
divided into two parts, the first focuses on research and preliminary stages of a writing project, while
the second focuses on the actual writing process, covering issues relating to punctuation and spelling.
The book provides a list of Dos and Don’ts for each topic, giving the student a succinct checklist to test
him/herself with in practice.

Doug Babington and Don LePan, The Broadview Pocket Guide to Writing (Ontario, Broadview
Press 2005)

An immensely helpful guide book that provides examples of usage and confirms established writing
rules. The student can use this to learn basic rules in a quick and concise way, and continue to use this
resource as an easy reference guide.

James P Davis, The Rowman and Littlefield Guide to Writing with Sources (Lanham, Rowman
and Littlefield 2007)

This teaches a very important skill in contemporary writing – referencing. It aids the student in
understanding the importance of referencing, how to reference and how to avoid plagiarism. These skills
are as important as grammar and writing in academic writing, as they help promote and improve the
quality of research in general.

Kate L. Turabian, George G. Colomb and Joseph M. Williams, Student’s Guide to Writing College
Papers (Chicago, University of Chicago Press 2010)

This is a very detailed writing guide that provides a practical step-by-step guide of the research process,
including preliminary matters such as choosing a research topic and developing a research question. It
covers a wide area of the field in a little space so it is not full of unnecessary or superfluous information,
and the quick tips help students take note of important pointers.

Laurie Rozakis, Schaum’s Guide to Writing Great Research Papers (e-book, McGraw-Hill
Companies 1999, 2007)
This is a handbook on research writing that will make the student more comfortable about venturing
into the world of academic writing. It explains thematic issues such as what constitutes a research paper,
as well as practical issues such as how to write an introduction. The book presents model essays that
can guide the student/researcher in the application of the skills discussed therein.

Martin H. Manser, The Facts on File Guide to Good Writing (New York, Infobase Publishing
2009)

This is a basic writing guide that provides the writer/researcher with the tools for developing and
perfecting effective writing skills. It covers issues in grammar and structure as well as thematic issues
like analysis and critical thinking. It covers everything from preliminary tasks/expectations to the
concluding stages of putting together any kind of written work. Though not specifically targeted to law
students/researchers, this book will provide the basic tools necessary for any writing exercise.

Marcia Lerner, Writing Smart: Your Guide to Great Writing (New York, Princeton Review
Publishing 2001)

Another basic guide to writing, this book focuses on developing and mastering effective writing skills. It
is a general guide that deals with general writing and does not focus on legal skills and writing. With
cartoons and blithe inscriptions in playful font, it adds a little fun to the process.

Merryn Whitfield, Blake’s Writer’s Guide for Primary Students (Glebe, Pascal Press 2009)

This is an extremely useful resource for a new student of research and writing. It is very basic in language
and format, and provides simple explanations of rules and helpful tips that will shape the skills of any
student interested in research and writing in any field of study. Playful font, tables, diagrams and
pictures will help make the learning process fun.

Michael McConville and Wing Hong Chui, Research Methods for Law (Edinburgh, Edinburgh
University Press 2007)

This is a rather impressive discussion of the importance of legal research within a broader context of
contemporary trends in academic research. It contains discussions that explain the place of research in
legal studies and practice and vice versa. Although it might seem a bit of a mouthful for the
undergraduate student of law, a gradual attempt at understanding its content will go a long way in
promoting the understanding of research aims, objectives and methodologies in law.

Paula LaRocque, The Book on Writing: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Well (Marion Street Press
Inc. 2003)

With an expansive presentation of basic guidelines to writing, this book will serve as a companion to the
student of any discipline who has to express ideas in writing. It contains examples of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’
presentation, giving the student a visual and concrete means of identifying common mistakes, and
quizzes to aid practice.

Richard Maggraf-Turley, Writing Essays: A Guide for Students in English and the Humanities
(New York, Routledge-Falmer 2000)
This is a practical guide for the researcher/student that presents and explains rules of writing, from
grammar and syntax to structure and analysis. It provides relevant examples that portray the taught
rules in usage. Since this is a guide for students, the language is instructive and firm, and will give the
feel of being in a classroom or other learning environment.

Susan K. Miller-Cochran and Rochelle L. Rodrigo, The Wadsworth Guide to Research (e-book,
Cengage Learning)

This four-part text provides insight and instruction on doing research, from Preparing for Research to
Formatting Research. Although it does not focus on practical issues of writing, it provides a very detailed
explanation of research rules and objectives. It contains diagrams, tables and other examples in playful
font that will make the learning exercise a bit more bearable.

Tom Goldstein and Jethro Koller Lieberman, The Lawyer’s Guide to Writing Well (Berkley, Los
Angeles, University of California Press 2002)

With a focus on lawyers, this guide provides an easy-to-read approach to helping the lawyer understand
the relevance of writing, as well as develop good writing skills in practice. It is a narrative with
interjections of writing samples to furnish the reader with templates for application.

USEFUL WEBSITES

There are several websites and blogs where the student can find useful material to help prepare for
lectures, answer questions relating to the course, and practice relevant exercises. A simple web
search could reveal a wealth of information. Many universities and academic institutions with well-
developed writing courses usually have online resources or writing centres to assist students.. The
following sites are official sites that provide access to online text books and handouts and study pages
that will help explain the topics discussed in class.

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

The Capital Community College’s Guide to Grammar and Writing page provides access to content on
grammar and style, as well as more than 100 quizzes to test the application of rules learnt in the
different sections of the site.

http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/advice

Writing at the University of Toronto’s Advice on Academic Writing provides a thorough coverage of
all the phases of academic writing, providing advice and information on basic rules and how to apply
them, with pdf access to the material provided.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab (OWL) provides resources and instruction materials for
students that provide assistance through the writing process from start to finish.
LECTURE OUTLINE (FIRST SEMESTER)

Introduction to Legal Research

Basic Conceptual Issues - Importance of Research to Legal Studies and Practice - Qualitative and
Quantitative Research – Law and Empiricism

This class is intended to introduce the student to the importance of research to a successful legal career,
beginning at the University level. The student will be taught why adopting adept research skills should
be of primal importance to all the other skills that are required for legal studies, including the types of
research that may be undertaken by lawyers, legal researchers and others working in the field. At the
end of this class, the student should have a profound appreciation for the role of research in legal study
and practice, as well as the type of research that is relevant to those in the legal field.

Research Ethics

Plagiarism - Conflict of Interests - Morality and Research - Culture and Research - Politics and
Research - Consent and Confidentiality - Data Collection and Management

Research has become one of the top priorities for public and private actors all over the world because
of the effect of information gathering and management on governance and lifestyle. With the degree of
information that gets collected, and the manner in which the information is used, and even manipulated,
it is important to observe rules that would govern the management of that information. This class will
help the student understand the importance of research ethics, both in the conduct of research
(information gathering) and in writing. At the end of the class, the student should be able to apply
certain rules to ensure that the rights of others are not violated during the research process and in the
production of the final research work.

Pre-Writing and Draft Preparation

Developing an Idea - Choosing a Topic - Words on Paper - Skimming - The First Draft - The Final Draft
- Editing/Proofreading

Before engaging in research, there are certain preliminary matters that must be addressed, such as
coming up with a research question, finding a hypothesis, preparing drafts, and so on. This class will
provide the student with guidelines to handling these preliminary phases, and seek to provide the
student with the confidence to begin the research process, and to do so effectively. At the end of the class,
the student should able to comfortably transfer their ideas from their thoughts into writing.

Referencing and Citation

Importance of Referencing - References and Bibliographies - Different types of Referencing Styles -

Citation Guide

This class will be tailored towards teaching referencing skills, which have become very important in an
era of widespread information dissemination. At the end of this class, the student should be able to
understand different methods of referencing and how and when to apply them, as well as the relevant
details contained in citations.

Use of the Law Library

Know Your Library - The Role of the Law Librarian - Materials in the Law Library –

This class is an introduction to the most important tool that any law student or practitioner should have
at their fingertips, the law library. The class will aim to acquaint the student with important facts about
the law library and how to make the best use of resources contained therein. At the end of the class, the
student should be able to search for material effectively in the law library.

Case Reporting

The Jurisprudence of Case Law - Components of a Case - Deciphering the Ratio - Relevance of Court
Structures - Dissenting Judgements

Case studies in law are different from in any other discipline because of the structure and importance of
the judicial case. Therefore, the law student must learn how to read and report cases in a way that aids
information distillation. This class aims to provide the student with tools and guidelines to aid effective
case reporting. At the end of the class, the student should be comfortable with making the most of the
information contained in law reports in order to promote the particular research that is being
undertaken.

Digital tools

Finding Open Sources - Prudent Searching - Boolean Operations - Academic and Non-Academic
References - Sifting Sources

This class provides the students with tools for effective internet research, particularly how to use open
sources to get valuable information. At the end of the class, the students should be familiar with general
websites that can aid academic searches, as well as other websites that may be specific to the student’s
particular research needs.
Introduction to Legal Writing

Conceptual Issues - Role of writing in Legal Studies and Practice - Objectives of Legal Writing -
Importance of developing standard writing skills during legal studies - Types of Legal Writing

This class will provide the student with a general introduction to the course, explaining the importance
of the undertaking to the present and future work of the student. It will introduce the student to the
different types of writing exercises to be expected in a legal career, and provide basic insight to
addressing such tasks. At the end of the class, the student should understand and appreciate the reasons
for taking such a class, and its importance to a prospective legal career.

Grammar I: Basic Concepts

Parts of Speech - Tenses - Auxillaries - Verb Forms - Prepositional Groups - Questions - Adjectives
and Adverbs - Connectors and Discourse Makers

Perhaps the most important aspect of this course is the teaching of basic concepts of grammar that will
aid proper writing practice among students. This class will provide a thematic and practical guide to
developing those basic skills that will promote comprehensibility of formal written communications. At
the end of the class, the student should be able to produce basic text with correct grammar.

Grammar II: Syntax and Text

Sentence Construction - Clause Structure - Adjuncts and Conjunctions - Active and Passive Voice -
Paragraph Construction

While the preceding class(es) focus on basic rules in grammar about parts of speech and how to use
them in sentences, this section will focus on stringing words together to form grammatically correct
sentences, use of phrases and clauses, developing the idea of a sentence and combining sentences to form
a paragraph. This is an integral part of the course, as it transitions the student from the basic aspect of
the subject to the more intense facets. The main aim of this class is to train the students to use words
collectively in such a way as to elucidate their ideas.

Punctuation

Importance of Proper Punctuation - Full Stop - Comma - Colon and Semi-colon - Quotation Marks -
Exclamation Marks

The use of punctuations is perhaps one of the most confusing aspects of writing, as it demands a
consideration of several issues such as intent and voice. Improper punctuation can change the message
of a sentence completely. This class will equip the student with basic rules in the use of punctuations. At
the end of the class, the student should possess an understanding of the rules for using punctuations in
sentence construction.

Spelling
Importance of Accurate Spelling - Commonly Misspelt Words - Commonly Confused Words

This class will instruct the students in learning to identify spelling mistakes and distinguishing between
similar words and their usage. At the end of the class, the student should be able to use words in their
proper context and with their correct spellings.