Legal Research versus Legal Writing within the Law School Curriculum

The National Conference of Bar Examiners has proposed the development of a stand-alone legal research component to the bar exam. This recognition of the importance of legal research skills highlights the need for increased attention to legal research instruction in law schools. Professor Mersky looks at the history of legal writing and legal research programs in law schools, notes the continued demand by practitioners and the judiciary for improved legal research skills among recent graduates, and suggests curricular and instructional changes within the academy to address both these ongoing concerns and the expectations of a new generation of students.