Skip to Main Content

Workshops in the Library Research Series

URL: https://libguides.law.ucla.edu/libraryresearchseries

Library Research Series Workshop List

Advanced Searching Techniques

(This workshop is offered most years. Check the pages for recent semesters to locate the most recent recording of this workshop.)

Become a more efficient legal researcher! In this hour long training you will learn how to create effective and efficient searches using various types of connectors, truncation, and wildcards. (If you have no idea what those are, you should definitely come to the session!)

1L Research Efficiency: Tips from the Experts

(UCLA Law students, faculty, and staff can view a recording of the Spring 2021 1L Research Efficiency workshop)

Learn research efficiency tips and helpful strategies that you can use on more than one research platform. Efficiency tips covered include: How to avoid being overwhelmed by search results; knowing when to stop researching; finding secondary sources that save you time; and making the most of citators. Leave feeling more confident as you begin your Spring LRW Graded Assignment.

1L Research Refresher Before the Graded Problem

(This workshop is offered each fall. Check the pages for recent fall semesters to locate the most recent recording of this workshop.)

Prepare for the research portion of your LRW Graded Memo in this hour long research refresher.  Need to boost confidence in your research skills before your first graded memo assignment is handed out? Refresh your skills in using secondary sources and locating on-point cases in this recap of the research methods already covered in your LRW class. (Note: the graded memo assignment is under wraps, so no graded memo secrets will be spilled!)

Action Plans to Start Your Research

(No recording available.)

How do you begin your first summer/post-grad research assignment? With an Action Plan! Create one with confidence after attending this hour long training. Learn how to create an action plan for your research assignments at work. Know where to start your research and how to know when you're done. When you put your plan into action you can present your research results with confidence.

Beyond the Big Two: Alternative Legal Research Tools

(View the Fall 2020 asynchronous workshop on Beyond the Big Two: Alternative Legal Research Tools. UCLA Law students, faculty, and staff can view a recording of the Fall 2022 Beyond the Big Two Workshop.)

This workshop will explore a variety of databases and tools for legal research and enable you to locate and evaluate alternatives to Westlaw and Lexis for your legal research needs.

Bluebooking

Learning to Bluebook

(View the Fall 2020 asynchronous workshop on Learning to Bluebook)

Do you have a research paper to write this semester? Are you baffled by the Bluebook? Well, you are not alone. Join a librarian for an hour long training covering important points of Bluebook citations and tips for navigating the rules. Make sure you have a copy of the current Bluebook handy as this workshop is hands-on!

The Bluebook: From Loathing to Peaceful Coexistence

(This workshop is offered fall semester most years, but not usually recorded. Check the pages for recent fall semesters to locate the most recent notes from this workshop.)

Do you cringe when you need to pick up your Bluebook?  Not even sure where to start?  This hour-long workshop will give you some expert tips and tricks that will help you peacefully coexist with the Bluebook. 

Introduction to Legislative History

(UCLA Law students, faculty, and staff can view a recording of the Spring 2023 Introduction to Legislative History workshop.)

Learn from a librarian how to research federal legislative history, including the types of materials you might encounter and the tools you might use to find them.

Legal Research in Practice Panel

(UCLA Law students, faculty, and staff can view a recording of the Spring 2023 Legal Research in Practice Panel.)

Learn from law firm, court, and government librarians about research tools, projects, and expectations in practice.

Litigation Analytics, or How to Appear Wise Beyond Your Years

(No recording available.)

Imagine you’re a litigator, designing case strategy for a new client. The client wants to know whether the assigned judge is friendly to you, whether opposing counsel is any good, and whether the defendant has ever had cases like this before. As a newer attorney, you’d typically have to find these answers by asking a senior partner or reading every decision by the judge. Today, new litigation analytics products claim that they can answer these questions with a few quick clicks. Can they? Well, as is usual in the law, it depends.  In this 60-minute interactive workshop, you will learn about several different litigation analytics tools, including how to evaluate their strength or weakness on particular types of questions.

Researching Administrative Law

(UCLA Law students, faculty, and staff can view a recording of the Spring 2023 Researching Administrative Law workshop)

Agencies play an important role in everything from environmental law to entertainment law to corporate law. Brush up on the basics of researching laws created by federal and California agencies, including regulations, guidance documents, and administrative decisions.

Research for Transactional Lawyers

(UCLA Law students, faculty, and staff can view a recording of the Spring 2021 Researching for Transactional Lawyers workshop and notes from the Spring 2023 Researching for Transactional Lawyers workshop.)

Learn about the EDGAR database of SEC filings, and how those filings are used to populate powerful precedent databases that can help you start drafting, compare documents to yours, gain negotiating leverage and more. Workshop will also cover researching public and private companies.

Researching for Your SAW Paper or Law Journal Comment

(This workshop is offered most semesters. Check the pages for recent semesters to locate the most recent recording of this workshop.)

Learn methods for researching a seminar or other scholarly research paper. This workshop will assist you in developing and executing a research plan for your paper, including where to research and how to research, with a focus on staying organized throughout the process.

Word for Lawyers

(This workshop is offered most years, but not usually recorded. Check the pages for recent fall semesters to locate the most recent notes from this workshop.)

Draft legal documents more quickly and efficiently with Word tips and tricks for attorneys!

Work Smarter, Not Harder

(UCLA Law students, faculty, and staff can view a recording of the Spring 2021 Work Smarter, Not Harder workshop)

This workshop will combine professionalism, communication, and efficiency tips applicable to working on research assignments.  Come learn how you can make life easier for yourself and your colleagues by avoiding common pitfalls.