Center for Continuing Studies

Advance Legal Research and Writing Certificate

WIOA Certified
 MN Deeds WIOA

Our course teaches the advanced and specialized research approaches to using a law library and online research sites.

You'll learn the conceptual differences between computer-assisted legal research and hard copy research. You'll also learn how to formulate WESTLAW® search queries and to use online legal research methods as timesaving devices.

Requirements

  • You must have completed the Paralegal Certificate Course (Paralegal 1& 2) or the equivalent or have law office experience to take the course.
  • Expect at least 50 hours of study.
  • You'll complete reading and homework assignments and be assigned an advanced research project and writing assignment.
  • Final projects must be presented for grading to complete the course.

Topics covered

  • Legal authorities and citations
  • Writing legal analysis
  • WESTLAW® online legal research
  • Legal memoranda
  • Manual legal research
  • Types of legal writing

What you earn

Successful graduates earn a certificate of completion from St. Cloud State University, and a certificate of course hours completed from The Center for Legal Studies.

Register

2017 sessions

  • Oct. 16 - Dec. 1

2018 sessions

  • Jan. 8 - Feb. 23
  • March 5 - April 20
  • April 30 - June 15
  • June 25 - Aug. 10
  • Aug. 20 - Oct. 5
  • Oct. 15 - Nov. 30

Cost: $729

Materials:

Order "Legal Research, Analysis and Writing," "Legal Research Methods, 2nd Edition" and "Oran's Dictionary of the Law, 4th Edition" through The Center for Legal Studies.

WESTLAW® legal research access.

Alternate registrations

  • 800-522-7737, and pay by credit card
  • 320-308-4723 or 320-308-6100, and pay by check
  • Complete this form PDF)

Need a payment plan?

  1. Complete a registration form (PDF), then submit it by email, mail or fax
  2. Make a 25 percent down-payment and arrange monthly payments
Contact: Angela Olson