380 Research Methods in International, Foreign and Comparative Law

This one-credit legal research seminar introduces students to sources and strategies for researching international, foreign, and comparative law. We cover multiple research techniques while exploring freely available and subscription-based access to both primary and secondary sources. Topical coverage includes treaty law, international and regional organizations, international courts and tribunals, and foreign legal research. Assignments will reinforce practical research strategies and processes, and students will practice evaluating print and online sources in a changing information environment. This is a required spring course for students enrolled in the J.D./LL.M. in Comparative and International Law. The class will meet for eight 90-minute sessions. Grades will be based on take-home exercises, class participation, and a final research project.

Course Areas of Practice
Evaluation Methods
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
  • Other
Degree Requirements
Course Type
  • Seminar
Learning Outcomes
  • Legal analysis and reasoning, legal research, problem-solving, and written and oral communication in the legal context
  • Other professional skills needed for competent and ethical participation as a member of the legal profession

Sample Syllabi

Spring 2024

2024
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

380.01 1
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
  • Other
Michael McArthur, Julie Wooldridge

This one-credit legal research seminar introduces students to sources and strategies for researching international, foreign, and comparative law. We cover multiple research techniques while exploring freely available and subscription-based access to both primary and secondary sources. Topical coverage includes treaty law, international and regional organizations, international courts and tribunals, and foreign legal research. Assignments will reinforce practical research strategies and processes, and students will practice evaluating print and online sources in a changing information environment. This is a required spring course for students enrolled in the J.D./LL.M. in Comparative and International Law. The class will meet for eight 90-minute sessions. Grades will be based on take-home exercises, class participation, and a final research project.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Fall 2023

2023
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

380.01 1
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
  • Other
Michael McArthur

This one-credit legal research seminar introduces students to sources and strategies for researching international, foreign, and comparative law. We cover multiple research techniques while exploring freely available and subscription-based access to both primary and secondary sources. Topical coverage includes treaty law, international and regional organizations, international courts and tribunals, and foreign legal research. Assignments will reinforce practical research strategies and processes, and students will practice evaluating print and online sources in a changing information environment. This is a required spring course for students enrolled in the J.D./LL.M. in Comparative and International Law, and open to other students (2L, 3L, and LL.M) during the fall term. The class will meet for eight 90-minute sessions. Grades will be based on take-home exercises, class participation, and a final research project.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2023

2023
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

380.01 1
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
  • Other
Michael McArthur

This one-credit legal research seminar introduces students to sources and strategies for researching international, foreign, and comparative law. We cover multiple research techniques while exploring freely available and subscription-based access to both primary and secondary sources. Topical coverage includes treaty law, international and regional organizations, international courts and tribunals, and foreign legal research. Assignments will reinforce practical research strategies and processes, and students will practice evaluating print and online sources in a changing information environment. This is a required spring course for students enrolled in the J.D./LL.M. in Comparative and International Law, and open to other students (2L, 3L, and LL.M) during the fall term. The class will meet for eight 90-minute sessions. Grades will be based on take-home exercises, class participation, and a final research project.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Fall 2022

2022
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

380.01 1
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
  • Other
Michael McArthur

This one-credit legal research seminar introduces students to sources and strategies for researching international, foreign, and comparative law. We cover multiple research techniques while exploring freely available and subscription-based access to both primary and secondary sources. Topical coverage includes treaty law, international and regional organizations, international courts and tribunals, and foreign legal research. Assignments will reinforce practical research strategies and processes, and students will practice evaluating print and online sources in a changing information environment. This is a required spring course for students enrolled in the J.D./LL.M. in Comparative and International Law, and open to other students (2L, 3L, and LL.M) during the fall term. The class will meet for eight 90-minute sessions. Grades will be based on take-home exercises, class participation, and a final research project.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2022

2022
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

380.01 1
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
  • Other
Michael McArthur

This one-credit legal research seminar introduces students to sources and strategies for researching international, foreign, and comparative law. We cover multiple research techniques while exploring freely available and subscription-based access to both primary and secondary sources. Topical coverage includes treaty law, international and regional organizations, international courts and tribunals, and foreign legal research. Assignments will reinforce practical research strategies and processes, and students will practice evaluating print and online sources in a changing information environment. This is a required spring course for students enrolled in the J.D./LL.M. in Comparative and International Law, and open to other students (2L, 3L, and LL.M) during the fall term. The class will meet for eight 90-minute sessions. Grades will be based on take-home exercises, class participation, and a final research project.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Fall 2021

2021
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

380.01 1
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
  • Other
Michael McArthur

This one-credit legal research seminar introduces students to sources and strategies for researching international, foreign, and comparative law. We cover multiple research techniques while exploring freely available and subscription-based access to both primary and secondary sources. Topical coverage includes treaty law, international and regional organizations, international courts and tribunals, and foreign legal research. Assignments will reinforce practical research strategies and processes, and students will practice evaluating print and online sources in a changing information environment. This is a required spring course for students enrolled in the J.D./LL.M. in Comparative and International Law, and open to other students (2L, 3L, and LL.M) during the fall term. The class will meet for eight 90-minute sessions. Grades will be based on take-home exercises, class participation, and a final research project.

Syllabus: 380.01.Fall2021-syllabus.pdf520.74 KB

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2021

2021
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

380.01 1
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
  • Other
Michael McArthur

This one-credit seminar in advanced legal research introduces students to specific sources and strategies for international, foreign, and comparative legal research. It covers key primary and secondary sources in both print and electronic formats, including freely available and subscription-based resources. The subjects examined include treaty law, the law of international organizations, European Union law, civil law and other foreign legal systems, as well as selected topics in international private law. The course emphasizes the research process, strategies, and evaluation of print and online sources in a changing information environment. This course is required for students enrolled in the J.D./LL.M. in Comparative and International Law and open to other students (2L and 3L) with the instructor's permission. The class will meet for eight 90-minute sessions. Grades will be based on in-class and take-home exercises, class participation, and a final research project.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2020

2020
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

380.01 1
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
  • Other
Michael McArthur

This one-credit seminar in advanced legal research introduces students to specific sources and strategies for international, foreign, and comparative legal research. It covers key primary and secondary sources in both print and electronic formats, including freely available and subscription-based resources. The subjects examined include treaty law, the law of international organizations, European Union law, civil law and other foreign legal systems, as well as selected topics in international private law. The course emphasizes the research process, strategies, and evaluation of print and online sources in a changing information environment. This course is required for students enrolled in the J.D./LL.M. in Comparative and International Law and open to other students (2L and 3L) with the instructor's permission. The class will meet for eight 90-minute sessions. Grades will be based on in-class and take-home exercises, class participation, and a final research project.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2019

2019
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

380.01 1
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
  • Other
Michael McArthur

This one-credit seminar in advanced legal research introduces students to specific sources and strategies for international, foreign, and comparative legal research. It covers key primary and secondary sources in both print and electronic formats, including freely available and subscription-based resources. The subjects examined include treaty law, the law of international organizations, European Union law, civil law and other foreign legal systems, as well as selected topics in international private law. The course emphasizes the research process, strategies, and evaluation of print and online sources in a changing information environment. This course is required for students enrolled in the J.D./LL.M. in Comparative and International Law and open to other students (2L and 3L) with the instructor's permission. The class will meet for eight 90-minute sessions. Grades will be based on in-class and take-home exercises, class participation, and a final research project.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2018

2018
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

380.01 1
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
  • Other
Michael McArthur

This one-credit seminar in advanced legal research introduces students to specific sources and strategies for international, foreign, and comparative legal research. It covers key primary and secondary sources in both print and electronic formats, including freely available and subscription-based resources. The subjects examined include treaty law, the law of international organizations, European Union law, civil law and other foreign legal systems, as well as selected topics in international private law. The course emphasizes the research process, strategies, and evaluation of print and online sources in a changing information environment. This course is required for students enrolled in the J.D./LL.M. in Comparative and International Law and open to other students (2L and 3L) with the instructor's permission. The class will meet for eight 90-minute sessions. Grades will be based on in-class and take-home exercises, class participation, and a final research project.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2017

2017
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

380.01 1
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
  • Other
Lucie Olejnikova

This one-credit seminar in advanced legal research introduces students to specific sources and strategies for international, foreign, and comparative legal research. It covers key primary and secondary sources in both print and electronic formats, including freely available and subscription-based resources. The subjects examined include treaty law, the law of international organizations, European Union law, civil law and other foreign legal systems, as well as selected topics in international private law. The course emphasizes the research process, strategies, and evaluation of print and online sources in a changing information environment. This course is required for students enrolled in the J.D./LL.M. in Comparative and International Law and open to other students (2L and 3L) with the instructor's permission. The class will meet for eight 90-minute sessions. Grades will be based on in-class and take-home exercises, class participation, and a final research project.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2016

2016
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

380.01 1 Lucie Olejnikova

This one-credit seminar in advanced legal research will introduce students to specific sources and strategies for international, foreign, and comparative legal research. We will cover key secondary sources in both print and electronic formats, including freely available and subscription-based resources. The subjects examined include treaty law, the law of international organizations, European Union law, civil law and other foreign legal systems. The course will emphasize the research process, strategies, and evaluation of print and online sources in a changing information environment. This course is required for students enrolled in the J.D./LL.M. in Comparative and International Law. The class will meet for eight 90-minute sessions. Grades will be based on in-class and take-home research exercises, class participation, and a final research project.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

*Please note that this information is for planning purposes only, and should not be relied upon for the schedule for a given semester. Faculty leaves and sabbaticals, as well as other curriculum considerations, will sometimes affect when a course may be offered.