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Law students read A LOT of case law. Reading case law helps students understand the role of the judicial branch and how a court analyzes a specific set of facts and applies those facts to the applicable laws, passed by the legislative branch. However, most law students are not required to take a course on administrative law, which leaves students at a loss as to how to research anything related to the administrative branch. This module is designed to help prepare students for the often-unanticipated portion of time in practice related to advising clients on changes in the law, depending on how their client’s industry is regulated by federal, state, and local entities.

Through a series of exercises, this module will provide an overview of the federal administrative resources and introduce students to free, online versions of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations. Each exercise is designed to familiarize students with the organization and content of each resource and test students’ understanding of the process of administrative legal research.

Students will learn how to cite proposed and final regulations and how to monitor proposed changes. Additionally, students will walk through the process of finding the enabling legislation and the corresponding Acts to verify whether the agency is acting within its statutory mandate. The last two exercises introduce students to the increased use of Presidential Executive Orders to implement policy changes without statutory or regulatory approval, and how to find administrative hearings and orders.

This module could be used in conjunction with a Legal Research course or to teach the practical side of legal research in an Administrative Law course.