Legal research and writing are fundamental skills required of practising lawyers in Canada. To help students better prepare for Bar admission we have developed a Legal Research and Writing (LRW) course that provides students with insights and best practices as well as an opportunity to apply their learnings throughout the course.
Course description
The LRW course is an eight-week course that consists of two online modules, with a multiple-choice quiz after each module and two assignments that include a research and writing component. Students must complete the first module, Legal Research, Fact Gathering and Case Management before the second module, Written Communications: Legal Writing is released.
Module descriptions
Legal Research, Fact Gathering and Case Management
Clients do not come to their lawyer with clearly laid out legal issues. They come to their lawyer with a problem or a goal and expect their lawyer to apply knowledge and judgment to help. To do that, lawyers engage in fact-gathering, legal research, and case management.
These all form part of the process of providing solutions to clients. In this module, you will cover the following topics: fact gathering, legal research, case management and trial preparation in order to effectively solve problems for clients.
Written Communications Skills: Legal Writing
Communication skills are critically important to lawyers in all areas of practice. A poorly written or drafted document is not only a reflection on the competency of the lawyer who created it but may be the foundation for a potential lawsuit. Litigators, too, are judged by the quality of their writing. In this module, you will review the basics of legal writing, and how to write an opinion letter, an advocacy letter, and a retainer agreement.
Registration
Registration for the August 2020 offering is now closed.
Course tuition fees
$375 CAD + applicable taxes
Course dates
August 24, 2020, to October 18, 2020
Course completion
Students who complete the LRW course, meet the admission requirements for the Practice Readiness Education Program (PREP) and subsequently register for PREP will be exempt from the following PREP Foundation Modules:
- Legal Research, Fact Gathering and Case Management
- Written Communication Skills: Legal Writing
Student Frequently Asked Questions
Students must complete the online course registration form and submit payment for their tuition fees to be granted access to course materials.
The LRW course is eight weeks in length and will take approximately 60 hours to complete.
The LRW course is completed entirely online through the D2L online learning management system.
The supported browsers are Chrome and Firefox. You must use one of these two browsers for FULL functionality in the learning environment. Ensure your browser has been updated within the last month.
A reliable high-speed internet connection is required.
You must complete and pass the two online modules as well as complete and submit Assignment #1 with reasonable effort and you are expected to apply Assignment #1 feedback to Assignment #2. You must demonstrate Reaching Entry-Level (RC) Competence on Assignment #2 to pass the course.
The LRW course tuition fees are $375 CAD plus applicable taxes.
Payments can be made by online bill payment.
Online bill payment is a fast and secure way to make a payment with a Canadian bank account. Payments are processed through your financial institution’s own banking service.
- Log on to your bank’s online system
- Create a payee profile. Add “The Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education” or “CPLED” as a payee on your bill payment profile (name will vary from bank to bank)
- Enter your Student ID number located in the top right corner of your invoice as your account number.
- Allow for processing time. It may take up to five business days for online payments to be processed.
For support on setting up online payment, contact your financial institution.
Students must complete the online course registration form and submit payment for their tuition fees to be granted access to course materials.
The LRW course is eight weeks in length and will take approximately 60 hours to complete.
The LRW course is completed entirely online through the D2L online learning management system.
The supported browsers are Chrome and Firefox. You must use one of these two browsers for FULL functionality in the learning environment. Ensure your browser has been updated within the last month.
A reliable high-speed internet connection is required.
You must complete and pass the two online modules as well as complete and submit Assignment #1 with reasonable effort and you are expected to apply Assignment #1 feedback to Assignment #2. You must demonstrate Reaching Entry-Level (RC) Competence on Assignment #2 to pass the course.
The LRW course tuition fees are $375 CAD plus applicable taxes.
Payments can be made by online bill payment.
Online bill payment is a fast and secure way to make a payment with a Canadian bank account. Payments are processed through your financial institution’s own banking service.
- Log on to your bank’s online system
- Create a payee profile. Add “The Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education” or “CPLED” as a payee on your bill payment profile (name will vary from bank to bank)
- Enter your Student ID number located in the top right corner of your invoice as your account number.
- Allow for processing time. It may take up to five business days for online payments to be processed.
For support on setting up online payment, contact your financial institution.
