Legal Research and Analysis
LAW-40003
Learn the fundamental tools and skills involved in legal research and analysis. Through and in-depth analysis of the sources of case law, statutory law, and administrative law, students learn the steps necessary to solve problems on both the Federal and California State levels. These steps include locating legal authority, reading and comprehending statutes and court decisions, interpreting legal authority and applying it to factual situations, and presenting the results in a memorandum of law.
Course Format
Attendance is required for all meetings, regardless of the time zone in which you reside.
Course Information
Materials Fee Requirement
A LexisNexis Membership is required to complete this course ($55.00). Once the fee has been processed, students will be emailed the instructions on how to set up their accounts. Students are required to have set up their accounts and be able to access them on the first day of class. Please note, fee payment processing can take up to 48 hours.
TO PAY:
- Click on the shopping cart in the top right corner.
- Enter the following Section ID#: 190591
- Click the “Add” Button and follow the directions to complete the transaction.
- Deadline to pay the Lexis fee: 07/14/25.
- Account set-up instructions will not be emailed until after payments have been processed.
- Do not wait until the first day of class to pay the Lexis fee.
Course sessions
Section ID:
Class type:
Textbooks:
The Little Book on Legal Writing 2nd
by Dworsky
ISBN / ASIN: 0837705606
The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation 21st
by Harvard Law Review, Columbia Law Review, Yale Law
ISBN / ASIN: 9780578666150
Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals 10th
by Deborah E. Bouchoux
ISBN / ASIN: 9781543847581
You may purchase textbooks via the UC San Diego Bookstore.
Policies:
- No refunds after: 7/18/2025
Note:
Schedule:
| Date | Day | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/16/2025 | Wed | 1:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. |
| 7/23/2025 | Wed | 1:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. |
| 7/30/2025 | Wed | 1:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. |
| 8/6/2025 | Wed | 1:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. |
| 8/13/2025 | Wed | 1:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. |
| 8/20/2025 | Wed | 1:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. |
| 8/27/2025 | Wed | 1:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. |
| 9/3/2025 | Wed | 1:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. |
| 9/10/2025 | Wed | 1:00 p.m. | 4:00 p.m. |
Instructor:
Julia Dunlap, J.D.
Director of Legal Education, UC San Diego
Julia M. Dunlap, Esq., is the Director of Business, Legal, and Safety Programs for UC San Diego Extended Studies Business certificates, ABA Approved Paralegal Certificate Program, the Patent Law Certificate Program, and the OSHA Training Institute Education Center. Ms. Dunlap received her Bachelor of Art's degree in English from the University of California at Berkeley. She earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of San Diego, School of Law, and became an active member of the California State Bar in 1993. She is licensed to practice before California and Federal courts. In addition to her duties at UC San Diego, she is a sole practitioner specializing in estate planning. A lawyer by training but an educator at heart, Ms. Dunlap currently teaches Introduction to the Legal System, Foundations of Legal Communication & Research, and Legal Research & Analysis at UC San Diego Extended Studies. She has played an active role in legal education for over 20 years and is a staunch supporter of the important role paralegals play in the legal profession. As a past president of the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE), Julia is considered an expert in the field of training and education of non-lawyers.
