Not everybody can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal services. In law school we had access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty whenever you got out and started could. Many firms have much more the other, and Maybe large firms may for you to both. Despite access to at least of these, I discovered that I can often find things faster and easier with free resources. Many states have statutes and such on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available on a daily basis.
That’s exactly where book “Legal Research” does its part. It provides simple to follow research methods to assist you answer your legal questions. Was created to promote has sections for on-line research too as information regarding law libraries for people who have regarding one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Learning the Basics from the Law. Brief descriptions with the the law is, sources of law, state versus federal law, as well as the court network. Too basic for an attorney, however for the layperson the book was written for, this is the good intro.
Two: Finding Legal Resources. This chapter explains where legal facts are located, primary and secondary sources, websites for legal topics, and legal research websites. It offers Lexis and Westlaw, furthermore other sites that have the freedom. I like the ideas and warnings through the book too. Good caution that every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to someone who had it drilled into them during law school, but probably not known ordinarily laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know to be able to go looking, like will be the case civil or criminal, figuring the area of law you want to research, what resources will an individual with generate profits . to find, and being aware of your legal research question. This is important, you wish to know what you’re really hunting for before you go searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Sources. This chapter explores sources such as online resources (including a bit about deciding if reliable), self-help legal books, legal encyclopedias, form books, practice manuals, continuing legal education publications, law reviews, and so on. Many law firm will possess a lot of these kinds of resources, and you will find even more at a law library. This chapter provides brief a closer look at what these sources might be.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Tend to be some the almost all legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to find these resources and increase your website’s traffic them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations and also rules and ordinances. Each of these tend to be crucial depending on top of your particular hassle. This chapter is a superior introduction for this world of “laws” for anyone that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. A wide variety of our law is not found in statutes, however in the decisions of cases that previously been made a decision. These cases interpreted laws and currently employ the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is an example of a famous case of which may be looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn the right way to use citations to find cases, find cases through the internet, find cases within the law catalogue.
Seven: Using Case Legal system. This chapter actually explains what an incident is, that they are published, and how cases affect later arguments. If you matter relies on case law, this chapter will to be able to.
Eight: Validating Your Seek. I pointed out the tip earlier, which chapter goes further in order to assist you acquiring you have “good guideline.” It teaches you tips on how to Shepardize a Case, a process we lawyers use to create the cases we are relying on are still good. An individual are trying to make in a situation yourself, you must be sure you are relying on “good .” These are the forms of things lawyers know that many laypeople never.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research unit. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is research. Once you find the information, you must put genuine find in written form for those that asked you find the concept. This chapter provides fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Not only thorough when your semester class most fresh law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. However a brief section about going to the court and the court process leading to a couple pages on finding and working with a legal counsel.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is because lawyer learn by case studies and examples that this chapter any research problem, how to find the facts, and then how to legal act approach rare to knowledge. It’s very short, so it will give the non-lawyer a little example of how to the the law and begin finding the way to go.
The book chapters stop here on-page 255. The next 100 plus pages is often a glossary, which a person would not need should they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually has a simple legal dictionary which don’t replace “Black’s” but is a good resource. Then there’s a short appendix on topics along with an index.
Overall, Amazingly exciting . this book could be very valuable for the person who wants or needs to attempt legal research but does not know where to start. If you are required to do-it-yourself, information can lead the manner for you. It is a very good description in the legal research process for any without legislation degree.