The attorney's search for more efficient and accurate methods of self-education and legal research is the pursuit of perfection – perpetually in progress. Are you using all the tools at your disposal to save time and get the information you're looking for? This legal course offers a practical guide through the latest challenges and opportunities evolving technology presents in legal research and law practice management. Stay on the cutting edge of your practice with tips from experienced attorney faculty. Order today!

1. Organizing Legal Research and Delegating Tasks
2. Case-Specific Research
3. Advanced Online Legal Research Skills
4. The Brief Makes the Difference: Effective Use of Research in Trial and Appellate Briefs
5. Legal Ethics and Legal Writing
6. Managing Information in a Mobile World

Continuing Education Credits:   

* denotes specialty credits

1. ORGANIZING LEGAL RESEARCH AND DELEGATING TASKS
   9:00 - 10:00, Molly Brownfield
   1. Setting Up General Research Guidelines
   2. Determining the Goal(s) of the Search
   3. Narrowing the Scope (Narrowing Down the Search Parameters)
   4. Choosing the Right Tool for the Search (Matching the Sources/Methods to the Type of Info You Need - Depending on the Goal)
   5. Identifying Key Focal Points
   6. Setting Timelines
   7. Keeping Track of Work Done and Time Spent
2. CASE-SPECIFIC RESEARCH
   10:15 - 11:00, Molly Brownfield
   1. Primary Law (Court Decisions, Statutes, Regulations, Rules) Online
   2. Sample Forms - Free or Low-Cost Online Briefs, Motions, Easements, Agreements, Divorce Petitions, etc.
   3. Finding Non-Legal Information for Your Legal Case
      1. Property Searches
      2. People Searches
   4. Other Paid and Free Online Litigation Resources
   5. Utilizing Local College Campuses and Libraries as a Resource
3. ADVANCED ONLINE LEGAL RESEARCH SKILLS
   11:00 - 12:00, Nichelle J. Perry
   1. Practical Tips for Searching Within a Site (Common Site Architecture Formulas)
   2. Understanding and Mitigating the Shortfalls of Search Engines
   3. Useful Shortcuts
   4. 7 Simple Mistakes That can Kill Your Online Search
   5. Top Time Wasters in Online Searches
   6. Choosing and Utilizing Paid and Free Online Legal Research Engines (WestlawNext, LexisNexis, BNA, Google Scholar, Fastcase, etc.)
      1. Recent and Upcoming Trends in Legal Research Provider Market
      2. Choosing the Provider to Fit Your Research Style
4. THE BRIEF MAKES THE DIFFERENCE: EFFECTIVE USE OF RESEARCH IN TRIAL AND APPELLATE BRIEFS
   1:00 - 2:00, Olivia L. Weeks
   1. Use of Non-Fee Based Internet Resources in Legal Writing
      1. Criteria for Use
      2. Use Under the 19th Edition of the Bluebook
   2. Use of Fee-Based Resources in Legal Writing
      1. Pitfalls
      2. Use Under the 19th Edition of the Bluebook
   3. Use Authorities That Support the Writer's Points Explicitly
      1. Pitfalls
      2. Guidelines
   4. Organize, Organize, Organize
      1. Precise Structure
      2. Use of Transitions and Headings
   5. Update
   6. Citation
      1. Importance
      2. Changes in the 19th Edition of the Bluebook
5. LEGAL ETHICS AND LEGAL WRITING
   2:15 - 3:15, Olivia L. Weeks
   1. Playing by the Rules (Rules of Appellate Practice and the Local Rules of Court)
   2. Sanctions for Legal and Factual Research Failure
   3. Federal Sanctions Under Rule 11
   4. Frivolous Research Conduct Under State Law
6. MANAGING INFORMATION IN A MOBILE WORLD
   3:15 - 4:30, Nichelle J. Perry
   1. iPhone and iPad Apps
   2. Droid Apps
   Google Tools for Mobile Devices

MOLLY BROWNFIELD joined the J. Michael Goodson Law Library, Duke University School of Law, in July 2008. Prior to arriving at Duke Law, she worked as a reference librarian at the Rutgers Law Library-Newark and as a Tarlton Fellow at the University of Texas School of Law's Tarlton Law Library. Ms. Brownfield teaches specialized advanced legal research courses and co-teaches a section of legal analysis, research and writing. As head of Reference Services, she manages and administers all aspects of the Reference Department, including the Reference Desk, faculty services, and the Library's Faculty Research Assistants Program. She is a member of the American Association of Law Libraries, and served on the AALL Foreign, Comparative & International Law Special Interest Section's Strategic Plan Committee from 2006-2007. Ms. Brownfield earned her B.A. degree from Duke University and her J.D. degree from the University of Minnesota Law School. She is a member of the Illinois State Bar. In addition to Foreign, Comparative & International Law, her research interest includes Information Literacy, and she is a co-recipient of the 2006/2007 AALL/Aspen Research Grant for a research study titled "Assessing Information Literacy of Law Students."

NICHELLE J. PERRY is currently the assistant director of the North Carolina Central University School of Law Library. After graduating from law school, Ms. Perry practiced law in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and served as a clerk for North Carolina Court of Appeals judge Clifton E. Johnson. In 1995, Ms. Perry became the Director of Academic Support at North Carolina Central University School of Law in charge of the Performance Based Admission Program and tutorial programs. While serving as Director of Academic Support, she earned a Master of Library Science degree and began teaching legal research part-time at North Carolina Central University School of Law. From 2005-2007, she was the Reference Instructional Librarian at North Carolina Central University School of Law Library. Ms. Perry then served as the Reference/Electronic Services Librarian at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Kathrine R. Everett Law Library from 2007-2010. Ms. Perry is a member of the North Carolina State Bar.

OLIVIA L. WEEKS is the Director of the Law Library and Assistant Professor of Law with Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law in Raleigh. She is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. District for the Eastern District of North Carolina. Ms. Weeks earned her A.B. degree from Meredith College, her M.L.S. degree from East Carolina University and her J.D. degree from Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law. She is a member of the American and North Carolina bar associations, the American Association of Law Libraries, the Southeastern Association of Law Libraries and the Raleigh Area Law Librarians Association.

Please refer to Continuing Education Credit FAQ for general information about seeking credit for your participation in one of our continuing education programs.

Additionally, our team of credit specialists are here to answer your specific credit-related questions weekdays 7am - 5pm Central:

Phone: 866-240-1890

Email: credit@nbi-sems.com