Boost legal research skills with self-paced online course

15 December 2020 11:37

Boost legal research skills with self-paced online course

Practical legal research skills have taken on even greater importance in 2020, as legal professionals look to improve efficiency and productivity in the new normal brought on by COVID-19.

With an emphasis now on remote working, practitioners must ensure they have the requisite skill to optimise their legal research and case preparation in order to make the best use of their limited time and available resources, while still contributing towards the strength of their argument in court.

The ability to conduct legal research is essential for lawyers, regardless of area or type of practice.  However, the most basic step of identifying the leading case governing the issues in question and then building your argument around this, can be complicated by changing legislation, case law and even legal theory.

To assist anyone interested in improving their practical legal research skills and investing in themselves to ensure sustainability in the new normal, Dr Jeanne-Mari Retief, Director of legal consultancy CALIBRICS, in partnership with LexisNexis South Africa, has produced the online Practical Legal Research Skills eLearning course.

The self-paced, online learning course is specifically aimed at busy practitioners and their needs in the everyday running of a legal practice. With a practical overview of research tips for the practitioner, it teaches proven legal research methodology that will save practitioners time – and in law, time = money.

A total of six weeks of self-paced learning time is required, broken down into two weeks to complete the six-module eLearning course, two weeks to complete the final assignment
and two weeks to receive feedback on the assignment.

However, the e-course is also suitable for law students, candidate attorneys and any legal professionals – regardless of practice area or specialty – who are interested in gaining an understanding of how to embrace a systematic approach to legal research through a proven research methodology, using all available resources within limited timelines.

While the course does not serve as an extension of any academic research courses taken at tertiary level, it will practically equip those who might have little to no knowledge of effective research methodology, to make better use of technology in order to effectively conduct research. Candidates will receive theoretical knowledge as well as practical know-how through assessments that test application of the methodology. Each of the six modules is conducted online, allowing delegates to set their own pace using an easy-to-navigate digital platform. Upon completion of all modules and attaining a minimum of 70% in assessments, delegates also receive a Certificate of Completion.

There are forum discussions with the lecturer, downloadable resources, shared learning experiences with other delegates and individualised feedback on written assignments.

To find out more information about the course, modules or registration, visit http://ow.ly/ug2y50C0u9z

Need to embrace legal tech but have no idea where to start?

Visit:  https://www.lexisnexis.co.za/evolution-of-legal-research?utm_source=logico&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=evolution%20of%20legal%20research