October 30, 2007

PL 205--Legal Research
In class today, Tuesday 10/30, we went over the briefing of the Diecidue case. I also discussed a case decided the same day as Diecidue, John Doe v. District Attorney, that did discuss some of the constitutional issues that were not dealt with in Diecidue. The homework for Thursday 11/1 is to read in the textbook pp. 233-235 concerning Keyciting, a Westlaw alternative to Shepardizing. Also, the ongoing homework is to continue your ongoing research projects.

October 25, 2007

PL 205--Legal Research
In class today, Thursday 10/25, I distributed 3 handouts.

The first was the format to use for showing your Shepardizing of a case. From this day forward, any research projects handed in must include Shepardizing (or, later, Keyciting).

The second was the format to use for a case brief. We went over tht format in detail.

The third was a photocopy of a recent Maine case, Maine v. Diecidue, 2007 ME 137. The assignment for Tuesday 10/30 is to brief the Diecidue case, using the format provided. Please e-mail me if you have any questions or were not in class.

October 23, 2007

PL 205--Legal Research
In class today, Tuesday 10/23, we talked about the process of Sheparding. The homework for Thursday is simply to continue your individual research projects.

October 18, 2007

PL 205--Legal Research
In class today, Thursday 10/18, we went over the formation of issues in the three cases that were assigned. The assignment for next Tuesday 10/23 is to read the textbook discussion of Shepards, pp. 167-178.

October 16, 2007

PL 205--Legal Research
In class today, Tuesday 10/16, most of the class had not finished the Issues assignment due today, so we will discuss those Issues on Thursday instead. Late papers will be accepted on Thursday, with a reduction of one grade. We also continued work on the research projects.

October 11, 2007

PL 205--Legal research
In class today, Thursday 10/11, we began by going over an exercise at the end of Chapter 11. Then we resumed working on the research projects. The assignment for Tuesday 10/16, is to read Chapter 9 of the text. Then write out (to be handed in and graded) full statements of all of the issues for 3 cases that are in the Appendix at the end of the text: Beam on p. 567, Shea on p. 576, and Dean on p. 586.

October 4, 2007

PL 205--Legal Research
In class today, Thursday 10/4, we went over the concepts of Chapter 10 of the text, and specifically went over assignments 3 and 5 on p. 338. There is no class meeting next Tuesday 10/9. The assignment for Thursday 10/11 is to read Chapter 11 of the text. Also, continue working on the individual research assignments.

October 2, 2007

PL 205--Legal Research
In class today, Tuesday 10/2, we began with a discussion of how specific or how general the statement of an issue should be, and whether you need to be looking for case law that includes all of the listed facts. I then helped people with their individual research projects. The assignment for Thursday 10/4. in addition to writing up any research projects that you have finished, is to read Chapter 10 of the text regarding Issues, and prepare to discuss assignments 3 and 5 on page 338.