Choosing a Topic for Seminar Papers and Journal Notes: The Selection Process

Follow these steps or use your own:

1.   Use the following questions to create a list of no more than three ideas:

• What areas of law am I genuinely, honestly interested in?
• What law topics are of current interest?

2.   Select one idea and do some preliminary topical research.

• Develop some basic keywords and phrases.
• Evaluate your results:
  • Is it narrow enough to cover thoroughly?
  • Do you still find it interesting?
  • Can it say something new?
• Refining the idea until it meets the above criteria.
• The result should  be a concise, one-sentence description of the topic.

3.   Run a prospective full search in major databases. (Westlaw, Lexis, HeinOnline, etc.)

• Start with the basic keywords and build a more refined set of search terms.
• Peruse articles that are based on similar topics, looking for differences with your idea.
• Consider factors such as:
  • Perspective (e.g. political vs. technological)
  • Approach (e.g. supportive vs. critical)
  • Changes (e.g. new cases or concepts)
• Evaluate whether the end result is sufficient as a note topic.

**   If it won't work, go back to step 2 and research the next idea

4.   If it still looks viable:

• Check for any formal procedures for topic approval.
• Run the topic by the journal editor and/or professor.

Start early

Writing often takes much more time than initially anticipated.

Plan accordingly

Create milestone goals to measure your progress.

Be consistent

Commit to work on your paper for a specific number of hours per week.

Stay Engaged

Don't let other projects or events significantly distract your efforts.

Start now

You’ll be glad you did!