773 Research Methods in Business Law

This advanced legal research seminar will introduce students to specific sources and strategies for researching a variety of business law topics, such as corporations, securities, and commercial bankruptcy. We will cover key primary and secondary sources for business law research: state and federal cases, statutes, regulations, and other administrative materials; subject-specific secondary sources; company disclosure documents; and sources for factual company and industry research, among others. The course will emphasize research processes, strategies, and evaluation of sources in a changing information environment. Students will develop their research skills through a variety of hands-on exercises simulating research assignments in practice. Grades will be based on review questions, research exercises, class participation, and a take-home final exam.

Course Areas of Practice
Evaluation Methods
  • Final Exam
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
Degree Requirements
Course Type
  • Seminar
Learning Outcomes
  • Legal analysis and reasoning, legal research, problem-solving, and written and oral communication in the legal context

Sample Syllabi

Spring 2024

2024
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

773.01 2
  • Final Exam
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
Laura M. Scott

This advanced legal research seminar will introduce students to specific sources and strategies for researching a variety of business law topics, such as corporations, securities, and commercial bankruptcy. We will cover key primary and secondary sources for business law research: state and federal cases, statutes, regulations, and other administrative materials; subject-specific secondary sources; company disclosure documents; and sources for factual company and industry research, among others. The course will emphasize research processes, strategies, and evaluation of sources in a changing information environment. Students will develop their research skills through a variety of hands-on exercises simulating research assignments in practice. Grades will be based on review questions, research exercises, class participation, and a take-home final exam.

Syllabus: 773-01-Spring2024-syllabus.pdf680.85 KB

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2023

2023
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

773.01 2
  • Final Exam
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
Laura M. Scott

This advanced legal research seminar will introduce students to specific sources and strategies for researching a variety of business law topics, such as corporations, securities, and commercial bankruptcy. We will cover key primary and secondary sources for business law research: state and federal cases, statutes, regulations, and other administrative materials; subject-specific secondary sources; company disclosure documents; and sources for factual company and industry research, among others. The course will emphasize research processes, strategies, and evaluation of sources in a changing information environment. Students will develop their research skills through a variety of hands-on exercises simulating research assignments in practice. Grades will be based on review questions, research exercises, class participation, and a take-home final exam.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2022

2022
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

773.01 2
  • Final Exam
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
Laura M. Scott

This advanced legal research seminar will introduce students to specific sources and strategies for researching a variety of business law topics, such as corporations, securities, and commercial bankruptcy. We will cover key primary and secondary sources for business law research: state and federal cases, statutes, regulations, and other administrative materials; subject-specific secondary sources; company disclosure documents; and sources for factual company and industry research, among others. The course will emphasize research processes, strategies, and evaluation of sources in a changing information environment. Students will develop their research skills through a variety of hands-on exercises simulating research assignments in practice. Grades will be based on review questions, research exercises, class participation, and a take-home final exam.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2021

2021
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

773.01 2
  • Final Exam
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
Laura M. Scott

This advanced legal research seminar will introduce students to specific sources and strategies for researching a variety of business law topics, such as corporations, securities, and commercial bankruptcy. We will cover key primary and secondary sources for business law research: state and federal cases, statutes, regulations, and other administrative materials; subject-specific secondary sources; company disclosure documents; and sources for factual company and industry research, among others. The course will emphasize research processes, strategies, and evaluation of sources in a changing information environment. Students will develop their research skills through a variety of hands-on exercises simulating research assignments in practice. Grades will be based on review questions, research exercises, class participation, and a take-home final exam.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2020

2020
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

773.01 1
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
Laura M. Scott

This one-credit seminar in advanced legal research will introduce students to specific sources and strategies for researching a variety of business law topics, including corporations, securities, and commercial bankruptcy and reorganization. We will cover key primary and secondary sources for business law research: state and federal cases, statutes, regulations, and other administrative materials; subject-specific secondary sources; company disclosure documents; and sources for factual company research, among others. The course will emphasize research process, strategies, and evaluation of print and online sources in a changing information environment. Students will develop their research skills through a variety of hands-on exercises. Grades will be based on in-class and take-home research exercises, class participation, and a final research project.

Because this is a fast-track course, attendance at the first class session is mandatory.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2019

2019
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

773.01 1
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
Laura M. Scott

This one-credit seminar in advanced legal research will introduce students to specific sources and strategies for researching a variety of business law topics, including corporations, securities, and commercial bankruptcy and reorganization. We will cover key primary and secondary sources for business law research: state and federal cases, statutes, regulations, and other administrative materials; subject-specific secondary sources; company disclosure documents; and sources for factual company research, among others. The course will emphasize research process, strategies, and evaluation of print and online sources in a changing information environment. Students will develop their research skills through a variety of hands-on exercises. Grades will be based on in-class and take-home research exercises, class participation, and a final research project.

Because this is a fast-track course, attendance at the first class session is mandatory.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2018

2018
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

773.01 1
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
Laura M. Scott

This one-credit seminar in advanced legal research will introduce students to specific sources and strategies for researching a variety of business law topics, including corporations, securities, and commercial bankruptcy and reorganization. We will cover key primary and secondary sources for business law research: state and federal cases, statutes, regulations, and other administrative materials; subject-specific secondary sources; company disclosure documents; and sources for factual company research, among others. The course will emphasize research process, strategies, and evaluation of print and online sources in a changing information environment. Students will develop their research skills through a variety of hands-on exercises. Grades will be based on in-class and take-home research exercises, class participation, and a final research project.

Because this is a fast-track course, attendance at the first class session is mandatory.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2017

2017
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

773.01 1
  • Practical exercises
  • In-class exercise
  • Class participation
Laura M. Scott

This one-credit seminar in advanced legal research will introduce students to specific sources and strategies for researching a variety of business law topics, including corporations, securities, and commercial bankruptcy and reorganization. We will cover key primary and secondary sources for business law research: state and federal cases, statutes, regulations, and other administrative materials; subject-specific secondary sources; company disclosure documents; and sources for factual company research, among others. The course will emphasize research process, strategies, and evaluation of print and online sources in a changing information environment. Students will develop their research skills through a variety of hands-on exercises. Grades will be based on in-class and take-home research exercises, class participation, and a final research project.

Because this is a fast-track course, attendance at the first class session is mandatory.

Pre/Co-requisites
None

Spring 2016

2016
Course Number Course Credits Evaluation Method Instructor

773.01 1 Laura M. Scott

This one-credit seminar in advanced legal research will introduce students to specific sources and strategies for researching a variety of business law topics, including corporations, securities, and commercial bankruptcy and reorganization. We will cover key primary and secondary sources for business law research: state and federal cases, statutes, regulations, and other administrative materials; subject-specific secondary sources; company disclosure documents; and sources for factual company research, among others. The course will emphasize research process, strategies, and evaluation of print and online sources in a changing information environment. Students will develop their research skills through a variety of hands-on exercises. 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.