Penny is probably correct that a minimalist approach for the first year of law school is appropriate, but I do think it important for them to get an opportunity somewhere, even in their first year, to know about research sources in addition to Lexis and Westlaw. They would also benefit from some help in using the Internet to do legal research which could be a part of this aspect of their courses. This would require support from the institution and may be impossible to accomplish in most. I don't disagree that these are important things to teach law students. But here is the problem.
Most law schools have classes in the first year that concentrate mostly on case law analysis.
Through a legal writing class and Moot court problems, a statutory or even a legislative history dimension might be added to the mix. Few schools have required research courses after the first year. IMHO, law students are not ready to learn the regulatory stuff in the first year. They won't remember it because they don't need to know or remember it. So there is a timing question that is really difficult.