Learn more about our new series, Interactive Legal Research & Writing Lessons: A Modular Approach, in the author video.

After a year of preparation and years of planning, West Academic is excited to introduce its innovative Modular Legal Research & Writing product. This comprehensive product is intended to offer individual modules on varying Legal Research and Writing topics which faculty can use to supplement their legal writing and research courses. The modules were created by a diverse team of authors from across the country, representing many different law schools. Any professor teaching Legal Research and Writing, Seminar Courses, or Orientation Classes, can take advantage of some or all the 21 modules. About half of the modules cover writing topics and the other half cover legal research topics. Faculty can take advantage of the full suite of all modules which can be purchased together (at a discount), the suite of Writing modules, the suite of Research modules, or one or two of the modules may be assigned individually for extra student practice.

Since any module may be purchased individually, the professor has flexibility to assign any one of the modules covering broad ranging topics from common law research to citations to writing a memorandum. This modular group of interactive lessons provide options for both the professor and the student, allowing a broader breadth of coverage outside of designated class times. Professors can “flip” their classroom, offering the modules as outside assignments and then cover their own exercises in class. Also, the professor can assign the modules to individual students who are struggling in an area such as citations or grammar. What is more, if a professor is not as comfortable with teaching a topic such as appellate advocacy, he or she can assign the module to fill the gaps of the classroom instruction.

Every module was designed to provide maximum interaction and allow students to engage with the content via exercises, questions, and a variety of audio and visual formatting. Given the skills-based nature of Legal Research & Writing courses, students will be able to learn by doing, rather than merely reading about the topic in the abstract. As a stand-alone set of course materials, or coupled with any other text, the Interactive Legal Research & Writing Lessons: A Modular Approach product is a must-have for your students.

Legal Writing Modules include:

  • Grammar, Usage, and Style (Mary B. Trevor)
  • Citation (Mary B. Trevor)
  • Analyzing a Single Case (Katherine B. Brem)
  • Organizing a Legal Argument Using CREAC and IRAC (Eric Voigt)
  • Case Synthesis (Eric Voigt)
  • Analyzing Cases (Leah Adams)
  • Applying a Rule to a New Set of Facts (Leah Adams)
  • Components of an Objective Memo (Laura Graham)
  • Objective v. Persuasive Writing (Amy R. Stein)
  • Writing Persuasively for Different Audiences and Purposes (Robin Boyle-Laisure)
  • Transactional Drafting (Robin Boyle-Laisure)
  • Complying with Court Rules and Local Rules (Tessa Dysart)
  • Oral Argument (Tessa Dysart)

Legal Research Modules include:
  • Introductory Basics (Michael Whiteman & Susan Boland)
  • Secondary Sources (Sarah Laubach)
  • Finding Cases (Emily Kline)
  • Critically Reading Caselaw (Carolyn V. Williams)
  • Statutes Problem Solving (Linda M. Ryan)
  • Constitutions (Dean C. Rowan)
  • Administrative Regulations (Ann Walsh Long)
  • Cost Effective Legal Research (Ann Walsh Long)


Imprint: West Academic Publishing
Series: Modular LRW
Publication Date: N/A
Related Subject(s): Legal Research

Sandra Simpson (Series Editor), Gonzaga University School of Law

Leah Adams, University of Pacific School of Law

Susan Boland, University of Cincinnati College of Law

Robin Boyle, St. John's University School of Law

Katherine Brem, University of Houston Law Center

Tessa Dysart, University of Arizona College of Law

Laura Graham, Wake Forest University School of Law

Emily Kline, Rutgers Law School-Newark

Sarah Laubach, University of CA-Berkeley School of Law

Ann Walsh Long, Lincoln Memorial University School of Law

Dean C. Rowan, California - Berkeley

Linda M. Ryan, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law

Amy R. Stein, Hofstra University School of Law

Mary B. Trevor, Mitchell Hamline School of Law

Eric Voigt, Faulkner University School of Law

Michael Whiteman, University of Cincinnati College of Law

Carolyn V. Williams, University of North Dakota School of Law

CasebookPlus™

This title is available in our CasebookPlus format. CasebookPlus provides support beyond your classroom lectures and materials by offering additional digital resources to you and your students. Anchored by faculty-authored formative self-assessments keyed to our most popular casebooks, CasebookPlus allows students to test their understanding of core concepts as they are learning them in class – on their own, outside of the classroom, with no extra work on your part. CasebookPlus combines three important elements:

  • A new print or digital casebook
  • Access to a downloadable eBook with the ability to highlight and add notes
  • 12-month access to a digital Learning Library complete with:
Multiple-choice self-assessment questions, including:
  • Chapter questions keyed to the casebook
  • Black Letter Law questions (available in select subjects)
  • Subject area review questions for end of semester use
Essay and short answer questions with sample answers and expert commentary, in 1L and select upper-level subjects

Leading digital study aids, an outline starter, and audio lectures in select subjects

Students can still utilize CasebookPlus digital resources if they’ve purchased a used book or are renting their text by purchasing the Learning Library at westacademic.com.

With CasebookPlus, you can customize your students’ learning experience and monitor their performance. The quiz editor allows you to create your own custom quiz set, suppress specific quiz questions or quiz sets, and time-release quiz questions. Additionally, the flexible, customized reporting capability helps you evaluate your students’ understanding of the material and can also help your school demonstrate compliance with the new ABA Assessment and Learning Outcomes standards.

Learn more about this series.