Course Information
| Session |
|---|
| Credits | 1.5 CEUs or 15 PDHs |
|---|---|
| Registration dates | We accept registrations through the first week of classes, unless enrollment is full, and unless the class was canceled before it started due to low enrollment. |
Legal Materials for Information Professionals
$250.00
Dates: May 4 - May 31Credits: 1.5 CEUs or 15 PDHs
This introductory course is designed for non-law librarians and those new to law libraries who wish to develop foundational skills in legal research and information. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the U.S. legal system, including government structure and law-making processes, as well as the role of case law within the legal framework. The curriculum covers essential legal citations, strategies for identifying current resources, and practical guidance for assisting patrons while upholding ethical standards. Through accessible exercises using free research tools, students will build confidence in navigating legal information. The program also examines current topics such as public access to legal information, access to justice, and the influence of artificial intelligence, offering practical strategies for those entering the field.
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Identify whether a particular legal issue is governed by federal or state law;
- Differentiate between persuasive and binding (mandatory) authority;
- List the type of law each branch of government produces as well as how and where those laws may be found in print and online;
- Recognize and interpret common legal citations and abbreviations;
- Consult resources produced by the American Association of Law Libraries to assist non-law librarians in providing effective legal reference assistance; and
- Articulate what is meant by the unauthorized practice of law, as well as identify ways to effectively assist customers without crossing legal or ethical lines.
Course Description
This introductory course is designed for non-law librarians and those new to law libraries who wish to develop foundational skills in legal research and information. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the U.S. legal system, including government structure and law-making processes, as well as the role of case law within the legal framework. The curriculum covers essential legal citations, strategies for identifying current resources, and practical guidance for assisting patrons while upholding ethical standards. Through accessible exercises using free research tools, students will build confidence in navigating legal information. The program also examines current topics such as public access to legal information, access to justice, and the influence of artificial intelligence, offering practical strategies for those entering the field.
At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- Identify whether a particular legal issue is governed by federal or state law;
- Differentiate between persuasive and binding (mandatory) authority;
- List the type of law each branch of government produces as well as how and where those laws may be found in print and online;
- Recognize and interpret common legal citations and abbreviations;
- Consult resources produced by the American Association of Law Libraries to assist non-law librarians in providing effective legal reference assistance; and
- Articulate what is meant by the unauthorized practice of law, as well as identify ways to effectively assist customers without crossing legal or ethical lines.
Jason Sowards
Jason Sowards is the Director of Knowledge Solutions for Troutman Pepper Locke, LLP, based in Houston, Texas. Jason received his BA and MS in economics, and MSLIS from the University of Kentucky, his JD from the University of Louisville, and his M.Ed. from Western Governors University. He has been a member of the Kentucky Bar since 2004. Jason began his career in academic law librarianship in 2006, having taught legal research to law students at Wake Forest University School of Law and Vanderbilt Law School. He also spent four years as the Nevada Supreme Court Librarian in Carson City, Nevada. In his current position, Jason is responsible for identifying, implementing, and evaluating knowledge management techniques and technologies that improve the discovery and transfer of knowledge across the firm. Despite his current role in knowledge management, Jason will always be a law librarian at heart, and legal information advocate.
How to Register
To enroll yourself or other participants in a class, use the “Register” button that follows the description of each course. If the “Register” button does not show up, try loading the page in a different web browser. Contact us if you have technical difficulties using our shopping cart system or would like to pay for an enrollment using another method. On the payment page in the shopping cart system, there is a place to add notes, such as the names and email addresses of participants you wish to enroll. We will contact you to request this information in response to your processed payment if you do not include it in the “notes” field. Prior to the start of the workshop, we will send participants their login instructions.Payment Info
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