Advance Legal Research and Writing Certificate

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.

Prerequisite

  • You must have completed the core Paralegal Certificate Course or have one year paralegal experience prior to enrolling in this course.

Topics covered

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

Requirements

  • Complete reading and homework assignments
  • Assigned advanced legal research project
  • Assigned advanced legal writing assignment
  • Final research and writing projects presented for grading

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 & More Information

2025 Sessions

Cost:  $995 (online)

  • Jan. 13 - Feb. 28, 2025
  • Mar. 10 - Apr. 25, 2025
  • May 5 - June 20, 2025
  • June 30 - Aug. 15, 2025

Materials:

Order the mandatory and/or optional materials through CLS by BARBRIi along with the WESTLAW® legal research access.

Interested in a payment plan?

  • Click Register Online above
  • Add the course to your cart
  • At checkout, check "Affirm Monthly Payments"
  • Click on "Continue with Affirm"
  • Answer a few questions (under 2 minutes)
  • Select a payment plan or
  • Register and pay with credit card

Contact: pace@stcloudstate.edu,  320-308-5759