Legal Research with Practical Applications

The Legal Research with Practical Applications course at GB Law School and Research Center is designed to teach students and legal professionals the essential skills required for conducting thorough and efficient legal research. This course focuses on combining theoretical knowledge with practical tools and strategies for finding, analyzing, and applying legal information to real-world cases. Participants will learn how to use various legal research platforms, databases, and resources while developing critical thinking skills to navigate complex legal issues.

Course Fee Structure

  • Regular Courses

    • Standard Fee: PKR 90,000
    • Discounted Fee: PKR 45,000 (after a 50% discount)
  • 3-Month Courses

    • Monthly Fee: PKR 15,000

For more details and course enrollment, please get in touch with our admissions team.

Who Should Enroll?

This course is ideal for:

  • Law students and recent graduates looking to enhance their research skills.
  • Legal practitioners seeking to sharpen their research methodologies.
  • Paralegals and legal assistants involved in case preparation and research.
  • Professionals needing a deeper understanding of legal research for specialized areas.

Start your journey to the Bar with GB Law School and Legal Research Center.

Objective

This three-month course is ideal for Law Graduates and junior Lawyers. It equips students with advanced legal research skills, enabling them to locate, analyze, and apply legal authorities effectively in real-world cases. Emphasis is placed on research methodologies, case law analysis, statutory interpretation, and practical legal writing.

 

Key Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, participants will:

  • Develop the ability to conduct comprehensive legal research using various online databases and legal libraries.
  • Gain practical experience in analyzing statutes, case law, and legal precedents.
  • Learn effective strategies for organizing and presenting legal research findings.
  • Understand how to apply research to draft legal memoranda, case briefs, and opinions.
  • Become proficient in the use of modern legal technology and software for research purposes.
  • Enhance critical thinking and analytical skills needed to approach complex legal questions.

Month 1: Foundations of Legal Research

Week 1

Introduction to Legal Research

  • Importance of legal research in practice
  • Types of legal sources: primary vs. secondary
  • Understanding legal systems and hierarchies of authority

Week 2

Research Methodologies & Strategies

  • Step-by-step legal research process
  • Developing a research plan
  • Identifying key legal issues and framing research questions

Week 3

Case Law Research & Analysis

  • How to read and analyze judicial decisions
  • Identifying ratio decidendi vs. obiter dicta
  • Using digests, headnotes, and citators: Shepard’s, KeyCite

Week 4

Statutory & Legislative Research

  • Locating and interpreting statutes
  • Tracing legislative history
  • Understanding amendments and repeals

Month 2: Advanced Research Techniques & Practical Applications

Week 5

Online Legal Databases & AI Tools

  • Effective use of Westlaw, LexisNexis, HeinOnline, and free resources: Google Scholar, government portals
  • AI-assisted legal research: CaseText, Casetext CARA, ChatGPT for legal research
  • Boolean search techniques and advanced filters

Week 6

Comparative & International Legal Research

  • Researching foreign laws and treaties
  • Using resources like UN treaties, EU law databases, and Commonwealth case law
  • Conflict of laws research

Week 7

Administrative Law & Regulatory Research

  • Finding and interpreting regulations, executive orders, and agency rulings
  • Researching administrative decisions and tribunal rulings
  • Tracking regulatory changes

Week 8

Practical Legal Writing & Research Memos

  • Structuring a legal research memorandum
  • Incorporating authorities effectively
  • Avoiding plagiarism and proper legal citation: Bluebook/OSCOLA

Month 3: Applied Research & Professional Development

Week 9

Research for Litigation & Case Strategy

  • Pre-trial research: Identifying precedents and persuasive authorities
  • Researching procedural rules and jurisdictional nuances
  • Drafting persuasive legal arguments

Week 10

Transactional Legal Research

  • Due diligence research: corporate filings, property records
  • Contract law research: model contracts, industry standards
  • Compliance and policy research

Week 11

Ethics & Avoiding Misleading Research

  • Recognizing outdated or overruled cases
  • Ethical obligations in legal research
  • Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Week 12

Capstone Project & Final Assessment

  • Research Project: Students work on a real-world legal problem and submit a detailed research memo
  • Presentation: Defending research methodology and findings
  • Peer Review & Feedback

Week 9

Introduction to Legal Tech & Its Impact

  • Evolution of legal technology (from databases to AI)
  • Key trends: AI, blockchain, smart contracts, ODR
  • Ethical considerations (data privacy, bias in AI)

Week 10

Legal Research 2.0 – AI & Advanced Tools

  • Westlaw Edge, Lexis+, Casetext CARA
  • AI legal assistants (Harvey, ChatGPT for Law)
  • Free & open-access legal research tools

Week 11

Case & Practice Management Software

  • Clio, MyCase, PracticePanther (comparative analysis)
  • Automating client intake & billing
  • Integrating calendars, deadlines & task management

Week 12

Document Automation & Contract Tech

  • HotDocs, Documate, Lexion
  • AI-powered contract review (Kira, Evisort)
  • Smart contract drafting (for blockchain transactions)

Course Modules

Introduction to
Legal Research

Overview of legal research principles. Types of legal resources (primary and secondary).

Using Legal
Databases

How to efficiently use online databases such as Westlaw, LexisNexis, and others. Researching statutes, case law, and administrative regulations.

Case Law
Analysis

Techniques for finding and interpreting case law. Applying precedents to current legal issues.

Statutory Research &
Legislative History

Understanding statutes and legislative intent. Researching statutory law and its applications.

Writing Legal
Memoranda & Briefs

Drafting research-based legal documents. Structuring and presenting legal findings clearly.

Practical Research
Exercises

Real-world research assignments with case studies. Hands-on experience in using research tools and applying findings.

Why Choose GB Law School and Research Center?

GB Law School offers a unique blend of academic excellence and practical learning in legal research. Our expert instructors, with extensive legal experience, guide students through every stage of the research process, providing hands-on experience with modern tools like Westlaw and LexisNexis. Personalized feedback ensures students refine their skills, building confidence in conducting comprehensive legal research. Graduates leave the course equipped to excel in legal practice, ready to handle complex research tasks and support legal teams in professional settings.

Course Delivery Method

  • Hands-on research exercises
  • Live demonstrations of legal databases
  • Guest lectures by legal researchers/librarians
  • Mock research assignments (e.g., drafting a litigation strategy memo)

Assessment & Certification

  • Weekly research assignments
  • Database proficiency test
  • Final research project and presentation
  • A certificate is awarded upon successful completion

Outcome

By the end of this course, students will be able to conduct efficient, accurate, and persuasive legal research, making them valuable assets in law firms, the judiciary, corporate legal departments, or policy research roles.