Legal Information and Documentation
Objectives
Develop a solid skillset grounded in scientific reliability and relevance, enabling students to research, identify, select, and work effectively with legal information and documentation.
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the core categories and fundamental principles that guide research and engagement with legal information and documentation.
Master citation rules to effectively avoid plagiarism.
General characterization
Code
27130
Credits
2
Responsible teacher
Available soon
Hours
Weekly - Available soon
Total - 56
Teaching language
Available soon
Prerequisites
Available soon
Bibliography
In English:
- MANN, Thomas, The Oxford Guide for Library Research, 4ª edição, Oxford University Press, 2015.
- OSCOLA (Oxford Standard for the Citation of Legal Authorities), 4th edn, Hart Publishing, 2012.
In Portuguese:
- MEIRIM, José Manuel, Como pesquisar e referir em Direito, Coimbra Editora, 2008.
- Normas portuguesas de documentação e informação CT7. Lisboa: BNP: IPQ, 2010.
Teaching method
Lectures, in-class exercises of legal research and introductory legal writing.
Evaluation method
CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT (100%)
RISE challenge: each student shall submit on Moodle 1-page-long original comment on a selected topic of choice of the student, mandatorily including:
- 2 pieces of legislation
- 2 Court decisions
- 2 doctrinal sources
- 1 other pertinent and reliable online source
OR
FINAL EXAM (100%)
- 2-hour-long in-class exam, open-book (only print-out materials allowed, no electronic devices), consisting of closed questions and one RISE exercise.
Subject matter
Introduction to InfoDoc
- Categories and pillars of legal information and documentation
- Introduction to legal research and writing
Legislation
- How to find and select EU and Portuguese legislation
- How to read and comment on a statute
Case Law
- How to find and select international, EU, and Portuguese case law
- How to read and comment on a decision
Doctrine
- How to find and select international, EU, and Portuguese scholarly publications
- How to read and comment on a scientific opinion
Other Sources
- Navigating the Internet: reliability and pertinence
- Qualitative and quantitative InfoDoc: words and numbers
Citation
- How to make citations in footnotes and endnotes
- Polishing your RISE