Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law Interns Guide: Getting Started

Researching rule of law initiatives and related topics of interest to the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law can be challenging due to the interdisciplinary nature of the topic, combining law, international relations, area studies, and the full range of social sciences. 

This guide offers some good places to start your research. You can also get personalized guidance on your specific project at any time by making an appointment with a Biddle law librarian.

For even more tips on legal research in general, including in-depth how tos on working with specific types of U.S. law, please see the Research Assistants Guide.

Whenever you are given an assignment, you will want to ask yourself the following questions:

1. WHAT EXACTLY SHOULD MY END PRODUCT LOOK LIKE?

Have you been asked to provide a memo? A short answer --in written or oral form? A bibliography? An annotated bibliography? How much analysis of the material you gather is expected?

Note: CERL projects should be completed to conform as much as possible to the standard citation format for lawyers and law scholarship, the Bluebook. If you're not already familiar with this format, Georgetown's Guide to the Bluebook is a useful introduction, and you can get the basics on how to use this format at Cornell Legal Information Institute's free guide to legal citation.

2. HOW MUCH TIME ARE YOU EXPECTED TO SPEND ON THIS?

Have you been given some indication regarding how much time your professor or boss expects you to spend on this? (Note: this is different from the next question.) Have you been given guidance regarding how detailed or in-depth your research is expected to be? Do they expect a short, quick peruse or a deep-dive? 

3. WHEN IS YOUR RESEARCH DUE?

When are you expected to send what you have found? Are there multiple deadlines? Are you being asked to check in periodically, send materials along as you find them, provide updates?

The answers to these questions should inform how you structure your research process and organize your materials and your time.