Fall SemeSter 2025 | UNISa aSSIgNmeNt |
lme3701 – legal reSearch methodology |
complete 2025 portFolIo aNSwerS, StUdy gUIde,
reSearch techNIqUeS & exam preparatIoN
Question 1:
Which of the following is the primary objective of legal research?
A) To confirm existing legal principles
B) To find persuasive authority
C) To discover the law as it presently stands
D) To analyze legal issues critically
Correct Option: D
Rationale: The primary objective of legal research is to analyze legal issues critically.
While confirming existing principles and finding persuasive authority are necessary
components, the overarching goal is to engage in critical analysis to apply and interpret
the law effectively.
Question 2:
What is the first step in the legal research process?
A) Finding secondary sources
B) Identifying legal issues
C) Evaluating statutes
D) Reviewing case law
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Identifying legal issues is the first step in legal research. It sets the
foundation for the research process by clarifying the specific questions that need to be
addressed before further investigating relevant sources.
Question 3:
Which of the following sources provides binding legal authority?
A) Statutes
B) Law reviews
C) Legal encyclopedias
D) Treatises
Correct Option: A
,Rationale: Statutes provide binding legal authority as they are enacted by legislatures.
In contrast, law reviews, legal encyclopedias, and treatises are secondary sources that
do not have binding authority.
Question 4:
What is the purpose of a case citation?
A) To summarize the case facts
B) To provide a legal analysis
C) To reference the source of legal precedent
D) To highlight legal principles
Correct Option: C
Rationale: A case citation serves to reference the source of legal precedent, allowing
researchers and practitioners to locate and verify the case in legal databases or
libraries.
Question 5:
Which of the following research methods is considered primary legal research?
A) Reviewing law journals
B) Analyzing legal opinions from scholars
C) Conducting interviews with legal professionals
D) Examining court case files
Correct Option: D
Rationale: Examining court case files is a form of primary legal research, as it involves
directly accessing and analyzing original legal documents and rulings rather than relying
on interpretations or analyses from secondary sources.
Question 6:
Which of the following best describes a secondary legal source?
A) A statute enacted by a legislature
B) A judicial opinion from a court
C) A commentary on a legal issue
D) A legal textbook
Correct Option: D
Rationale: A legal textbook is a secondary source as it provides commentary and
analysis on legal matters rather than original legal authority. Secondary sources help
explain and interpret primary law.
,Question 7:
What does the term "citator" refer to in the context of legal research?
A) A legal researcher
B) A tool that tracks the history and treatment of legal cases
C) A case citation format
D) An academic journal
Correct Option: B
Rationale: A citator is a research tool used to track the history and treatment of legal
cases, providing information on how a case has been cited in other legal decisions and
whether it is still good law.
Question 8:
When using an internet search for legal research, which of the following strategies is
least effective?
A) Using specific keywords
B) Restricting searches to known legal databases
C) Relying solely on general search engines
D) Evaluating the credibility of sources
Correct Option: C
Rationale: Relying solely on general search engines is least effective because they may
not filter results for legal authority, whereas specific legal databases are tailored for
legal research and provide more relevant and reliable results.
Question 9:
Which of the following statements about legal footnotes is true?
A) They are an unnecessary addition to legal writing.
B) They should only include citations to primary sources.
C) They are helpful for providing additional context and references.
D) They enhance the credibility of legal arguments.
Correct Option: D
Rationale: Legal footnotes enhance the credibility of legal arguments by providing
sources and additional context, making it easier for readers to verify claims and
understand the basis of arguments presented.
, Question 10:
What is the main purpose of conducting a literature review in legal research?
A) To promote personal legal opinions
B) To ensure compliance with legal standards
C) To identify gaps in the existing legal framework
D) To summarize existing research and establish a foundation for new research
Correct Option: D
Rationale: The main purpose of conducting a literature review is to summarize existing
research, highlight major contributions, and establish a foundation for further inquiry,
ensuring that new research builds on or addresses existing knowledge.
Question 11:
Which of the following statements about legislative history is true?
A) It is irrelevant to legal research.
B) It provides context and purpose behind the law.
C) It only includes the final texts of bills.
D) It is more effective than case law.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Legislative history provides essential context and purpose behind a law,
informing legal interpretations and applications, hence making it a valuable resource in
legal research.
Question 12:
When citing a case, which of the following details is typically included?
A) Case name, citation, court, and year
B) Only the case name and year
C) Case name and court only
D) Citation, court, and judge’s name
Correct Option: A
Rationale: A complete case citation typically includes the case name, citation, court,
and year of decision, providing essential information for locating and referencing the
case.
Question 13:
lme3701 – legal reSearch methodology |
complete 2025 portFolIo aNSwerS, StUdy gUIde,
reSearch techNIqUeS & exam preparatIoN
Question 1:
Which of the following is the primary objective of legal research?
A) To confirm existing legal principles
B) To find persuasive authority
C) To discover the law as it presently stands
D) To analyze legal issues critically
Correct Option: D
Rationale: The primary objective of legal research is to analyze legal issues critically.
While confirming existing principles and finding persuasive authority are necessary
components, the overarching goal is to engage in critical analysis to apply and interpret
the law effectively.
Question 2:
What is the first step in the legal research process?
A) Finding secondary sources
B) Identifying legal issues
C) Evaluating statutes
D) Reviewing case law
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Identifying legal issues is the first step in legal research. It sets the
foundation for the research process by clarifying the specific questions that need to be
addressed before further investigating relevant sources.
Question 3:
Which of the following sources provides binding legal authority?
A) Statutes
B) Law reviews
C) Legal encyclopedias
D) Treatises
Correct Option: A
,Rationale: Statutes provide binding legal authority as they are enacted by legislatures.
In contrast, law reviews, legal encyclopedias, and treatises are secondary sources that
do not have binding authority.
Question 4:
What is the purpose of a case citation?
A) To summarize the case facts
B) To provide a legal analysis
C) To reference the source of legal precedent
D) To highlight legal principles
Correct Option: C
Rationale: A case citation serves to reference the source of legal precedent, allowing
researchers and practitioners to locate and verify the case in legal databases or
libraries.
Question 5:
Which of the following research methods is considered primary legal research?
A) Reviewing law journals
B) Analyzing legal opinions from scholars
C) Conducting interviews with legal professionals
D) Examining court case files
Correct Option: D
Rationale: Examining court case files is a form of primary legal research, as it involves
directly accessing and analyzing original legal documents and rulings rather than relying
on interpretations or analyses from secondary sources.
Question 6:
Which of the following best describes a secondary legal source?
A) A statute enacted by a legislature
B) A judicial opinion from a court
C) A commentary on a legal issue
D) A legal textbook
Correct Option: D
Rationale: A legal textbook is a secondary source as it provides commentary and
analysis on legal matters rather than original legal authority. Secondary sources help
explain and interpret primary law.
,Question 7:
What does the term "citator" refer to in the context of legal research?
A) A legal researcher
B) A tool that tracks the history and treatment of legal cases
C) A case citation format
D) An academic journal
Correct Option: B
Rationale: A citator is a research tool used to track the history and treatment of legal
cases, providing information on how a case has been cited in other legal decisions and
whether it is still good law.
Question 8:
When using an internet search for legal research, which of the following strategies is
least effective?
A) Using specific keywords
B) Restricting searches to known legal databases
C) Relying solely on general search engines
D) Evaluating the credibility of sources
Correct Option: C
Rationale: Relying solely on general search engines is least effective because they may
not filter results for legal authority, whereas specific legal databases are tailored for
legal research and provide more relevant and reliable results.
Question 9:
Which of the following statements about legal footnotes is true?
A) They are an unnecessary addition to legal writing.
B) They should only include citations to primary sources.
C) They are helpful for providing additional context and references.
D) They enhance the credibility of legal arguments.
Correct Option: D
Rationale: Legal footnotes enhance the credibility of legal arguments by providing
sources and additional context, making it easier for readers to verify claims and
understand the basis of arguments presented.
, Question 10:
What is the main purpose of conducting a literature review in legal research?
A) To promote personal legal opinions
B) To ensure compliance with legal standards
C) To identify gaps in the existing legal framework
D) To summarize existing research and establish a foundation for new research
Correct Option: D
Rationale: The main purpose of conducting a literature review is to summarize existing
research, highlight major contributions, and establish a foundation for further inquiry,
ensuring that new research builds on or addresses existing knowledge.
Question 11:
Which of the following statements about legislative history is true?
A) It is irrelevant to legal research.
B) It provides context and purpose behind the law.
C) It only includes the final texts of bills.
D) It is more effective than case law.
Correct Option: B
Rationale: Legislative history provides essential context and purpose behind a law,
informing legal interpretations and applications, hence making it a valuable resource in
legal research.
Question 12:
When citing a case, which of the following details is typically included?
A) Case name, citation, court, and year
B) Only the case name and year
C) Case name and court only
D) Citation, court, and judge’s name
Correct Option: A
Rationale: A complete case citation typically includes the case name, citation, court,
and year of decision, providing essential information for locating and referencing the
case.
Question 13:
