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Home Syllabus Book Site Lawcat Wiki Library Home

International and Foreign Legal Research

Spring Semester 2008

Please complete the assigned reading(s) before each class session.
This syllabus is subject to change.

1/15/08back to top

Topic: Introduction to Seminar (Course Requirements and Legal Sources Worksheet). Review sample IFLR Questions. If time permits, review General Research Strategies.


1/17/08back to top

Topic: Review Basic Concepts, Sources of Law, Types of Sources, Library website, and LawCat.

Readings due:

  1. Chapter 1, International and Foreign Legal Research: A Coursebook (hereinafter "IFLR Book"). Per the Course Requirements, this is a required book.

Exercise due next class: Library Catalog (LawCat).


1/22/08back to top

Topic: Continue review from 1/17/08, if needed. Review English Language Sources. See Wiki for outline from class exercise.

Readings due:

  1. Chapter 2, IFLR Book.

 

1/24/08,1/29/08 and 1/31/08back to top

Topic: Introductory and Background Sources. Wiki project.

Readings due:

  1. Chapter 3, IFLR Book.

Exercise due next class: Introductory and Background Sources (distributed in class).

2/05/08 and 2/7/08back to top

Topic: Locating Journal Literature. Please see Wiki project.

Readings due:

  1. Chapter 4, IFLR Book.
  2. Finding Law Review Articles (USF Law Library).
  3. Solum, Download it While it's Hot: Open Access and Legal Scholarship, 10 Lewis & Clark L. Rev. 841 (2006). Please read for class on 2/7.

Exercise due 2/12/2008: Journal Exercise: Handout 1 and 2 (in-class exercise and homework).

2/12/08 and 2/14/08back to top

Topic: Researching Public International Law: Treaties and International Agreements. Please see Wiki project.

Readings due:

  1. Chapter 6, Sections I, II & III, IFLR Book.
  2. T. Buergenthal, Chapters 2 and 5 of Public International Law in a Nutshell (3d ed., St. Paul, Minn.: West Publishing Co., 2002). Distributed in class.
  3. Robert E. Dalton, "National Treaty Law and Practice: United States," in National Treaty Law And Practice: Dedicated to the Memory of Monroe Leigh (Duncan B. Hollis et al. eds., Leiden; Boston: M. Nijhoff, 2005). Distributed in class.

Exercise due: Treaty Exercise 1 (in-class) & 2.

2/19/08 and 2/21/08back to top

Topic: Using Electronic Resources (Guest speaker, Dean Rowan). Please see Wiki project.

Readings due:

  1. Chapter 5, IFLR Book.
  2. Claire M. Germain, Legal Information Management in a Global and Digital Age: Revolution and Tradition, 35 Int'l J. Legal Info. 134 (2007)
  3. Karen G. Schneider, Beyond Algorithms: A Librarian's Guide to Finding Web Sites You Can Trust, Google's Newsletter for Librarians (January 2006)
  4. Genie Tyburski, Web Searching with Advanced Commands, The Virtual Chase (rev. October 15, 2007)
  5. Roger Alford, Legal Research Using Google Books, Opinio Juris (February 9, 2007).

Exercise due February 28: Electronic Resources.

2/26/08 and 2/28/08back to top

Topic: Researching Public International Law: Customary International Law and Generally Recognized Principles. Please see Wiki project.

Readings due:

  1. Chapter 6, Section IV, IFLR Book.

Exercise: CIL: Researching International Case Law (in class assignment).

Submit the name of the foreign legal system for your presentation. You can submit this information to me via email — mhoffman@law.berkeley.edu.

Guidelines for foreign legal system presentation.

3/04/08 and 3/06/08back to top

Topic: Researching Foreign and Comparative Law and Researching Private International Law. Please see Wiki project.

Readings due:

  1. Chapter 7 and Chapter 9, SectionVI, IFLR Book.
  2. Apple and Deyling, A Primer on the Civil-Law System.


Exercise due 3/13/08: Foreign Law Exercise.

3/11/08back to top

Topic: Continue work on in-class exercise and reports from groups.

Submit research guide topic. You can submit this information to me via email — mhoffman@law.berkeley.edu.

Resarch Guide Guidelines

3/13/08back to top

Topic: Researching European Union Law. Please see Wiki project.

Readings due:

  1. Chapter 8, Section III, IFLR Book.
  2. Alford, European Union Legal Materials: A Guide for Infrequent Users, 97 Law Libr. J. 49 (2005).


Exercise due 3/20/08: European Union Law.

3/18/08 and 3/20/08back to top

Topic: Researching United Nations Law. On 3/20, meet in the U.N. Room with Wiltrud Harms.

Readings due:

  1. Chapter 8, Section II, IFLR Book.
  2. Wiltrud Harms, Selected U.N. Resources and Research Tools: Overview and Search Tips for Legal Research.

Exercise due April 8, 2008: United Nations Exercise.

3/25/08 and 3/27/08back to top

No class — Spring break.


4/1/08back to top

Topic: Researching Other IGOs and NGOs. Please see Wiki project.

Readings due:

  1. Chapter 8, Sections I, IV- VII, IFLR Book.
  2. ASIL Guide to Electronic Resources for International Law: International Organizations.

4/3/08back to top

Topic: Researching International Law Topics, Outline and Examples.

Readings due:

  1. Chapter 9, IFLR Book.

 

4/8/08back to top

Topic: Researching International Business Information (Guest speaker, Gary Peete, Long Business/Economics Library). Handout.


4/10/08back to top

No class -- ASIL Annual Meeting.

4/15/08 and 4/17/08back to top

Topic: Class presentations.

Exercise due: Research Guide Outline (due 4/24).

4/22/08 and 4/24/08back to top

Topic: Class presentations.

5/16/08back to top

Research guides due. Please email your guide to me by midnight. If you want comments, please indicate that in your email.