COURSE OUTLINE FOR LEGAL RESEARCH

Atty. Lexthom B. Balayanto

Eastern Samar State University
College of Law
Borongan City, Eastern Samar

Course Description

This two unit course is an analytical study into the methodology of legal research;
preparation of legal opinions, memoranda, both expository and critical, and the drafting
of pleadings on any subject.

I. INTRODUCTION TO LEGAL RESEARCH

1. Definition of Legal Research

2. The Need for Legal Research

3. Sources of Legal Research

4. Sources of Law
4.1. Primary Sources
4.2. Secondary Materials
4.3. Finding Tools

II. THE LEGAL RESEARCH PROCESS

1. Systematic Approach to Legal Research

1.1. Identification and Analysis of Significant Facts
1.2. Formulation of Legal Issues to be Researched
1.3. Research of the Issues Presented
1.4. Updates
 III. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH SKILLS:
CASE BRIEFING AND CASE SYNTHESIS

1. Case Briefing
1.1. Identification of Relevant Facts
1.2. Identification of Relevant Issues
1.3. Ruling
2. Exercises in Case Briefing
3. Synthesizing Cases
4. Exercises in Synthesizing Cases

IV. SOURCES OF LEGAL RESEARCH

1. Legal System

1.1. Sources of Law

1.1.1. Statutes or Statutory Law

a. Constitutions
b. Treaties and Other International Agreements
c. Statutes Proper (legislative Enactments)
d. Executive/Presidential Issuances
e. Administrative Rules and Regulations

1.1.2. Jurisprudence or Case Law

a. Supreme Court Decisions

b. Court of Appeals Decisions
c. Court of Tax Appeals Decisions
d. Sandiganbayan Decisions
e. Decisions of Administrative Agencies, Commissions and
Boards

2. Books of Secondary Authority

2.1. Case Digests
2.2. Treatises and Textbooks
2.3. Bar Reviewers
2.4. Legal Periodicals
2.5. Legal Encyclopedia
2.6. Law Dictionaries
 3. Search Materials and Finding Tools

3.1. Citators
3.2. Indexes
3.3. Bibliographies

V. PREPARATION OF LEGAL OPINIONS

1. Procedures of Drafting of Legal Opinions

VI. PREPARATION OF MEMORANDA

1. Procedures in Preparation and Drafting of Memoranda

1.1. Expository
1.2. Critical

VII. DRAFTING OF PLEADINGS

1. Kinds of Pleadings

1.1. Complaint
1.2. Answer
1.3. Counterclaims
1.4. Cross-claims
1.5. Third ( Fourt,etc.) Party Complaint

2. Parts of a Pleading

2.1. Caption
2.2. Body

2.2.1. Paragraphs
2.2.2. Headings
2.2.3. Relief
2.2.4. Date

2.3. Signature and Address

2.4. Verification
2.5. Certification against Forum Shopping
References:

1. Legal Research and Citations of the Philippines, Milagros Santos-Ong, 2nd

Edition, 2018.

2. Legal Research, Rufus B. Rodriguez, Reprinted July 2003