The Research Services team of the MacMillan Law Library regularly offers several one-credit Advanced Legal Research (ALR) courses each semester. Our teaching librarians each have earned at least a J.D. and a Masters degree in Library and Information Science (MLIS) and all have law practice experience and/or other highly relevant professional legal work experience.
All of our courses meet on an accelerated schedule and meet once a week for seven weeks. Additionally, all ALR courses qualify for one credit of Experiential Learning (EL).
Our Fall 2024 courses are listed below. To find our ALR courses in Emory's Course Atlas, search "ALR" and change "Any Subject" to "Law (LAW)"
ALR: IP - Copyright Legal Research is a practical, skills-based course that will introduce students to research resources and research techniques applicable to copyright law and related topics at the intersection of law and technology. Class assignments will includes in-class student presentations and focused research tasks. Students will become familiar with a range of tools and materials, including primary and secondary sources. Topics for class sessions will include foundations of U.S. copyright law, strategies and best practices for legal research, and the impact of AI on copyright.
Details:
ALR: International Legal Research will introduce specialized techniques for research in the legal materials of other countries. Topics for class sessions will include types of primary resources for other countries, comparative works and subject compilations, translations and use of legal resources in foreign languages, and research in the materials of select countries, both common law jurisdictions (United Kingdom and Canada), and civil law jurisdictions (France and Mexico).
Details:
ALR: Social Justice Legal Research is a practical, skills-based course designed to introduce specialized techniques for research in areas of law relevant to social justice. Upon completion of the seven-week course, students will be well equipped to effectively conduct the legal research necessary for social justice lawyers. Attention will be paid to both primary and secondary sources and research exercises will focus on several distinct fields of law (e.g. voting rights, fair housing, etc.) that are important to social justice. Graded work will include in and out of class assignments and a final research project.
Details:
ALR: Mastery of Statutory Legal Research is a practical, skills-based course designed to improve information literacy and prepare students for practice or future study. Through practical applications, including in-class exercises, homework exercises, a group presentation, and a final research project, students will become familiar with the principles, strategies, and best practices for doing statutory research. Topics for class sessions include research strategy and documentation, advanced search techniques, the legislative process from introduction of a bill to codification, legislative history, using the U.S. Code in its official and annotated forms, and state codes.
Details:
The library will tentatively be offering the following courses for Spring 2025:
Have a question for the Law Library? Reach out to us via one of our question forms:
Faculty Research or Staff Question?
Please complete our Faculty Request form.
Student Research Question?
Please complete our Student Research Request form.
MacMillan Library Hybrid Research Services:
Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm
Saturday - Sunday: Closed
MacMillan Library Building Hours (April 1 - May 3, 2024):
Monday - Thursday: 7:30am - 2am
Friday: 7:30am - Midnight
Saturday: 10am - Midnight
Sunday: 10am - 2am
Reference Desk:
Monday - Wednesday: 10am - 4pm
Thursday: 10:30am - 4pm
Friday: 10am - 1pm
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
IT Help Desk:
Monday - Friday:
Saturday - Sunday: Closed
Emory Law Archives:
Physical archives: By appointment only.
Digital archives: More information available here.
Limited remote services are available on a case-by-case basis.
Questions? Email Anna Sturgill, Law Librarian for Archives and Assessment Services
