Course Information

Enroll

Duration:
7 weeks

Program Modality:
Online

Cost:
$1,295

Dates:
October 20 - December 5, 2025

Notes:

This course requires an average of about 9 hours per week for reading and completing assignments.

Students requiring accommodation should contact our office at pewd@utrgv.edu to learn about the process.

Advanced Legal Research and Writing Certificate Course

This course is designed to thoroughly examine advanced and specialized approaches to utilizing legal resources available in law libraries and online.
Key topics include:

• Conceptual differences between computer-assisted legal research and hard copy research.
• Formulating WESTLAW search queries.
• Efficiently using WESTLAW and other online legal research methods as timesaving devices in legal research and writing.

This program is provided in partnership with Center for Legal Studies (CLS), a BARBRI company, a leading continuing education company.

logo of Center for Legal Studies


Details:


After successfully completing the tests and assignments for the course, students will be able to:
• Conduct manual legal research
• Conduct electronic legal research
• Find, interpret, and use various types of legal authorities
• Demonstrate how to Shepardize legal authorities
• Write a legal analysis
• Prepare a Memorandum of Law
• Brief case opinions
• Demonstrate various types of legal writing

You will be expected to spend approximately 9 hours per lesson reading and completing writing assignments. Extensions will not be granted. A minimum passing score of 70% is required on all tests and assignments. Students may consider working ahead in the curriculum if they have the time.

Successful completion of Paralegal Certificate Course, Part I (Paralegal 1 & 2), or the equivalent, or law office experience.

Required textbooks for this course:

  • Legal Research, Analysis and Writing, 5th edition by William H. Putnam
  • Legal Research Methods, 2nd Edition by Michael D. Murray and Christy H. DeSanctis
  • WESTLAW, online legal research access, available for the duration of the course for only $89.00. Order Online

Highly Recommended Legal Resources:

  • Gilbert Pocket Size Law Dictionary, 3rd Edition. West Academic.

Your final grade will be determined as follows:

  • The five practical application exercises comprise 40% of your grade.
  • The three writing assignments comprise 40% of your grade.
  • Your participation in class participation assignments comprises 20% of your grade.

Guidelines
• The loan amount must be at least $500.00.
• The loan amount in the application cannot exceed the enrollment fee noted on our website.
• Books will NOT be included in the loan amount.
• Service charges may apply.
• When applying for the Continuing Education Private Loan, please use the UTRGV Continuing Education School Code: 003599.

Private Loans

Lender Information
• The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley does not endorse or recommend any specific lenders for private loans. You are free to select any lender offering private loans. We recommend you compare loans from several vendors to find the best interest rates/terms and repayment options.
• When exploring loan options, please ensure the lender offers loans for non-credit continuing education programs.
• Our department has identified that Sallie Mae offers private loans that may be used for continuing education programs. This is shared for informational purposes only and does not constitute endorsement.

 

Submit a required written request via email three business days before the program start date. Weekends are not considered. Partial refunds are not allowed.



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