The ALL-SIS Legal Research Committee hosted the Legal Research Instruction
Roundtable on Sunday, July 9, at the St. Louis AALL meeting. This third iteration
of the Roundtable was the most successful yet, with over 100 people participating
in a lively discussion of diverse issues related to teaching legal research.
In contrast to previous years, the 2006 Roundtable was organized with tables devoted to specified topics, including Advanced/Specialized Legal Research, Introductory Legal Research, Foreign/LLM Legal Research Programs, and Use of Instructional Technology in Teaching Legal Research. Participants were given the opportunity to switch tables midway through the session in order to participate in more than one topical discussion.
Among the committee members and other volunteers that assisted in the Roundtable as moderators and note takes were Judy Anspach (who also worked hard to help organize the event), Kristen Baginski, Ed Beltz, Laura Cadra, Dragomir Cosanici, Debra Denslaw, Maryanne Gerber, Joe Gerken, Sarah Gotschall, Lesliediana Jones, Miriam Murphy, Mary Rumsey, Janet Sinder, Lisa Spar, Barbara Traub, and Lynn Wishart.
An abbreviated summary of the results of the Roundtable(s) discussions, as reported by our capable notetakers, is presented below. A more detailed version of the notes from the Roundtable appears on the ALL-SIS Legal Research Committee’s Web site (www.aallnet.org/sis/allsis/legalresearchcommittee/), organized by topics. We invite you to take a look, as the summaries below are merely the “tip of the iceberg” of the discussions.
Instructional technology in teaching legal research:
The discussion touched upon the pros and cons and the effective uses of Power
Point (you’ll have to check the Web site to find out the true identity
of the “Jimi Hendrix of Power Points”); CALI Lessons; instructional
tools such as tutorials produced with software such as Captivate or Camtasia;
non-linear approaches such as games or collaborations; using vignettes from
television programs as teaching vehicles; and working with instructional technology
specialists and with law faculty to encourage use of classroom technology.
Advanced/Specialized Legal Research:
Among the topics discussed were whether “advanced” legal research
courses are really advanced or just a reiteration of what students should have
learned in first year courses but didn’t (does this depend on who teaches
the first year research?); how to fight the idea that ALR courses were “too
much work”; where to get good ideas for research problems; teaching about
blogs and newsfeeds; and how to prepare students to conduct research in the
employment setting.
Introductory Legal Research:
Participants discussed issues including timing of introductory
legal research instruction (first or second semester); cooperation/integration
of intro legal research courses with first year writing courses and interactions
with writing faculty; effective types of assignments and course materials (final
exams, exercises, pathfinders, etc.); issues associated with grading (letter
grades or pass/fail); librarian compensation for teaching; and of course the
enduring issue of whether and how to integrate print and electronic resources
(the trend appears to be that print citators are definitely out, while print
digests are still pretty much in.)
Teaching Legal Research to Foreign/LLM students:
Participants noted some challenges to effective teaching of legal research
including students’ use of English as a second language; cultural differences
contributing to a lack of understanding of proper citation practices in Western
scholarship; and reluctance to admit ignorance or to request help. Roundtable
participants suggested several strategies to help ameliorate these difficulties,
including offering support such as language specialists through the writing
center; conducting presentations elucidating proper source citation practices
and avoidance of plagiarism; and offering individualized sessions with research
instructors.
All in all, everyone who turned out seemed to really enjoy the opportunity to engage in a freewheeling discussion of topics both new and old related to the teaching of legal research. Many thanks again to all who participated. We hope to see you at next year’s Roundtable in New Orleans!
