Law Library > Certificate of Achievement in Legal Research
Distinguish Your Resume With the
University of La Verne College of Law
Certificate of Achievement
in Legal
Research
Go to: General Information | Curriculum | FAQs
The University of La Verne College of Law offers an extracurricular certificate program in legal research. By completing this
program, students earn a credential they can list proudly on their resumes as proof of the research skills they offer prospective employers.
To earn the Certificate of Achievement, you must complete seven required workshops and five additional workshops of your
choice. Each workshop consists of one to two hours of instruction and demonstration and one hour of skills assessment. In order to earn
credit for each workshop, you must satisfactorily complete the skills assessment.
You may begin the program as early as the second semester of your first year of law school and may complete the requirements any time before
you graduate. Workshops are offered every semester and during the summer session. (NOTE: You may not begin the Certificate or take Certificate classes until you have passed Professor Rudolf's first year legal research class.)
When you complete the program, you will receive a professionally-printed certificate suitable for framing and hanging proudly on your office
wall. You may also request official transcripts be sent to prospective employers.
Required Workshops
Module 1
LR 101 Help! I Don't Know How to Start!
LR 102 Intro to WestlawNext and Lexis Advance
LR 103 The Key to Efficient Research
LR 104 Survival Skills for Print Research
Module 2 (completion of Module 1 is a pre-requisite)
LR 201 Basics of Terms & Connectors Searching
LR 202 Customizing Westlaw & Lexis
LR 203 Westlaw & Lexis Basics: Cases & Statutes
Electives (at least five workshops)
LR 301 Focus on California Research
LR 302 Using the California Style Manual
LR 303 California Practice Materials
LR 304 Resources for Litigation & Transactional Practice
LR 305 Advanced Westlaw (LR 203 pre-requisite)
LR 306 Advanced Lexis (LR 203 pre-requisite)
LR 307 Alternatives to Westlaw & Lexis
LR 308 Mastering Terms & Connectors (LR 201 pre-requisite)
LR 309 Researching Administrative Law
LR 310 Researching Legislative History
LR 311 Bluebook Survival Skills
LR 312 Special Topics (May repeat if topic different)
Total # of workshops needed for Certificate: 12 ( = 7 required + 5 elective workshops)
Note: You do not have to complete the courses within a Module in numerical order (e.g., you could complete 103 first and take 101, 102, and 104 later). However, all three are pre-requisites to moving on to Module 2 classes, which also don't have to be taken in numerical order. Electives may be taken before the required Module 2 classes are complete.
What does it cost to take these classes?
Nothing! Classes are free to all La Verne Law students.
Who teaches these classes?
All classes are taught by La Verne Law staff members who have J.D.s and graduate degrees in library or information sciences and have
significant experience in legal research. Most are licensed lawyers and some have experience in the practice of law.
How often do these workshops meet?
Once! Each workshop meets one time, though there may be multiple sections of a workshop offered. You attend once and if you successfully
complete the skills assessment, you receive credit for the workshop.
Do receive grades for these workshops?
No. The workshops are pass/fail and we keep records only of workshops passed. If a prospective employer asks for a transcript of the
courses you completed to earn the Certificate, it will show only the workshops you completed successfully.
How do I find out when workshops are being offered?
Schedules will be available at the Reference Desk and on TWEN in the Certificate’s class page.
How do I register for workshops?
Log into TWEN and choose the sign up sheet for the workshop you plan to attend. If you change your mind, please return and delete your name
from the list so another student can have your seat.
May I take just a few workshops without doing the whole certificate?
Yes! If you don't plan to pursue the Certificate the prerequisites are waived. Please let the instructor know so he or she doesn't turn in a report for you.
For more information, contact:
Terry Conaway
