Research in the Real World Starts Here:
Presenting research results
Oral Reporting on a Research Project
- Be prepared to give a succinct summary of your research – not
a chronological description of every source you used.
- It's often a good idea to first present your conclusion and then explain the logical foundation based on the research you conducted.
- Be prepared to be interrupted and questioned, and to vary the manner in which you planned to present your results according to the questions asked.
For an in-depth discussion of oral reporting, including questions to ask when presenting research results, consult the TMLL Guide to Legal Research "Presenting Research Results to a Supervisor."
Written Reporting on a Research Project
- Find out if the employer has a preferred format for office memoranda or other research reporting.
- Look at writing samples if you need to. Samples are available in commonly used legal writing texts such as Shapo, Writing and Analysis in the Law and Oates, The Legal Writing Handbook, among many others, and at the School of Law's Writing Center.
- PROOFREAD. Then proofread again. Don’t rely on your word processing program’s spell and grammar checks. A document riddled with errors will make you appear careless and unprofessional.
