Skip to Main Content
UC Logo
Libraries | Ask the Libraries

Legal Research Competency Program

home

About the Legal Research Competency Program

The University of Cincinnati College of Law offers an extracurricular competency program in legal research. University of Cincinnati Law students who complete the requirements of the Legal Research Competency program before graduation will receive a notation on their transcript stating that they are competent with respect to legal research, a credential they can list proudly on their resumes as proof of the research skills they offer prospective employers.

Why Complete the Legal Research Competency Program?

The importance of research competency is widely acknowledged within and beyond the legal community, as supported by academic research findings and studies documenting essential skills for the twenty-first century workplace.

FAQs

  1. Who can participate in the Legal Research Competency program?
    Any University of Cincinnati College of Law student can participate in the Legal Research Competency program.
  2. Do receive grades in the program?
    No. Attendance requirements and minimum scores on the assessments must be met in order to earn the badge and transcript notation but you will not receive a grade.
  3. How do I find out when sessions are being offered?
    Schedules and materials will be available on this page and on the Legal Research Competency Canvas class page.
  4. How do I register for the program?
    Registration will be made available through this site. Once you are registered, you will be enrolled in the Legal Research Competency Canvas class.
  5. Do I have to complete the program in one year?
    No!
  6. When do I need to complete the program?
    You will need to compete the program before you graduate.
  7. Who is responsible for tracking my progress towards completing the Legal Research Competency Program?
    You are responsible for tracking your progress towards completing the Legal Research Competency Program.
  8. Who should I contact if I have questions?
    Contact Susan Boland, Ron Jones, or Michael Whiteman.
  9. Who should I contact if I have technological problems with accessing the materials?
    Contact Susan Boland, Laura Dixon-Caldwell,Ron Jones, or Michael Whiteman.

Checklist

Checklist

In order to earn the notation on your transcript, Legal Research Level I, II, and the Capstone must be completed before graduation.

Legal Research Level I

Complete the Advanced Legal Research Class earning a B or better in the course.

OR

Complete 5 of the following modules:

  1. Research Strategies & Cost Effective Research
  2. Secondary Sources
  3. Statutory Research
  4. Case Law Research
  5. Terms & Connectors
  6. Advanced Terms & Connectors
  7. Free and Low-Cost Research
  8. Updating & Validating Law
  9. Staying Current
  10. Ohio Legal Research

Modules consist of videos and/or live lectures, quizzes, and satisfactory completion of research exercises.

Legal Research Level II

Complete the Advanced Legal Research Class earning a B or better in the course.

OR

Complete 5 of the following modules:

  1. Administrative Law I: Federal and State Rulemaking & Regulations
  2. Administrative Law II: Administrative Adjudication and Other Agency Actions
  3. Legislative History I: Federal Legislative History
  4. Legislative History II: State Legislative History
  5. Dockets & Court Documents
  6. Business Filings & Public Records
  7. Local Government Law
  8. Transactional Practice Materials
  9. Litigation Practice Materials
  10. Jury Verdicts & Settlements

Modules consist of videos and/or live lectures, quizzes, and satisfactory completion of research exercises.

Capstone

Write a 3-5 page paper comparing free, low-cost, and premium online legal research sources. The exact resources to be examined will be determined in consultation with the Associate Dean of Library Services or his/her designee.

AND

Complete the Advanced Legal Research Class (3 credits) earning a B or better in the course.

OR

Complete the “Tying-it-all-Together” research project.

Accessing Databases & E-Resources

How to Access

  • Lexis, Westlaw, Bloomberg Law
    • Access by your normal methods with your normal username and passwords.
    • Need to register for Bloomberg Law? Go to https://profile.bna.com/bloomberglaw-activate/ and fill out the form.
      • You do not need an activation code. You do need to use your UC email as the email address
      • Look for the confirmation email and check your junk mail if you do not receive it
  •  West Academic Study Aids:
    • Go to https://subscription.westacademic.com, or the Research Tools & Databases on our website, or click on any of the links in the Exam Study Guide for individual West Academic Study Aid books. Sign in to your West Academic Study Aids account.
    • If you have not yet created an account, go to the Create an Account link in the top right corner of the page.l
      • Use your UC email as the email address.
      • Be on the lookout for a confirmation email after you sign up. Check your junk mail if you do not receive the confirmation email.
      • Technical Support -- call: 1-877-888-1330 (option 4) or email: support@westacademic.com

 

Get Help & About the Authors

About the Author -- Susan Boland

Susan BolandSusan M. Boland
Associate Director
Robert S. Marx Law Library
Office 110H
susan.boland@uc.edu
Contact me on Teams
v: (513) 556-4407

Susan Boland is the Interim Director for the University of Cincinnati Robert. S. Marx Law Library. She teaches legal research and offers reference and research support services to all law library users. Prior to joining the law library faculty, she was the Head of Information Services for the Ruth Lilly Law Library at the Robert H. McKinney School of Law and the Research & Instructional Services librarian at Northern Illinois University College of Law. She has also held positions at a public library and community college library and served as a judicial clerk for the Iowa District Court for the Fifth Judicial District.  She is a member of various professional associations both regionally and nationally. She has served as Chair of the Computing Services Special Interest Section of the American Association of Law Libraries and President of the Mid-America Association of Law Libraries. She is currently Vice-President of the American Association of Law Libraries Animal Law Caucus. She has presented at regional and national conferences, as well as at continuing legal education programs. Her publications include annotated bibliographies on the death penalty and election law, as well as articles on legal research, technology, and teaching.

About the Author -- Ron Jones

Ronald JonesRonald Jones
Electronic Resources & Instructional Services Librarian
Robert S. Marx Law Library
Office 110M
ronald.jones@uc.edu
v: (513) 556-0158

Ronald Jones serves as Electronic Resources & Instructional Services Librarian at the University of Cincinnati Robert S. Marx Law Library. He is responsible for providing reference and research assistance to all library patrons. In addition to his reference duties, Mr. Jones co-teaches Advanced Legal Research. He is a member of various professional associations both regionally and nationally, and is the newly elected chair of the UC Library Faculty.

About the Author -- Michael Whiteman

Michael WhitemanMichael Whiteman
Associate Dean of Library Services & Director of the Law Library
Robert S. Marx Law Library
Office 314(B)
whitemme@ucmail.uc.edu
v: (513) 556-0159
f: (513) 556-6265

Michael Whiteman is the Associate Dean of Library Services and the Director of the Robert S. Marx Law Library at the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Prior to his position at UC, Michael worked at NKU Chase College of Law, where he served for a year and a half as Interim Dean, and for fifteen years as the Associate Dean for Law Library Services & Information Technology. Michael has regularly taught legal research, advanced legal research, as well as Criminal Law. Michael's scholarly activities center on technology's impact on the practice of law and its impact on law libraries.

Law Library Useful Links

Law Library Useful Links

  • Law Library on Facebook
  • Law Library on Twitter
  • Law Library on Pinterest

University of Cincinnati Libraries

PO Box 210033 Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0033

Phone: 513-556-1424

Contact Us | Staff Directory

University of Cincinnati

Alerts | Clery and HEOA Notice | Notice of Non-Discrimination | eAccessibility Concern | Privacy Statement | Copyright Information

© 2021 University of Cincinnati