Legal Research – How to find & Understand the Law
Not everyone is able to afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal natural resources. In law school we were treated to access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty when ever you got out and started training. Many firms have or even more the other, and Just maybe large firms may for you to both. Even with access a minimum of one of these, I see I often find things faster and simpler with free resources. Many states have statutes etc on-line these days. More and more are becoming available on a daily basis.
That’s exactly where book “Legal Research” will be in. It provides to be able to follow research methods to help you answer your legal questions. The book has sections for on-line research also as info on law libraries for those that have use of one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed chapters. The chapters include:
One: Knowing Basics with the Law. Brief descriptions of what the law is, reasons for law, state versus federal law, along with the court network. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, this may be a good rewards.
Two: Finding Legal Websites. This chapter explains where legal information and facts is located, primary and secondary sources, websites for legal topics, and legal research websites. Consists of Lexis and Westlaw, but also other sites that have the freedom. I like the guidelines and warnings through the book also. Good caution does not every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to a person that had it drilled into them during law school, but most likely not known ordinarily laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. In order to know in order to go looking, like will be the case civil or criminal, figuring out the area of law would like to to research, what resources will help you with the simple fact is to find, and finding out your legal research question. This is important, you need to know actually really interested in before planning searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Vendors. This chapter explores sources such marketing and advertising resources (including a bit about deciding if reliable), self-help legal books, legal encyclopedias, form books, practice manuals, continuing legal education publications, law reviews, as well as the. Many law firm will possess a lot of these kinds of resources, may will find even more at a law library. This chapter gives a brief overview of what these sources might be.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Tend to be some the majority of legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to find these resources and how to use them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations and also other rules and ordinances. Both of these are crucial depending on top of your particular factor. This chapter is an efficient introduction for this world of “laws” for the people that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Quantity our law is not found in statutes, but in the decisions of cases that already have been figured. These cases interpreted laws and are usually the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is one of a famous case of which may be looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn how you can use citations to find cases, find cases on your internet, find cases inside of law library.
Seven: Using Case Legislated rules. This chapter actually explains what in a situation is, that are published, and how cases affect later India law library differences. If you matter depends on case law, this chapter will aid you.
Eight: Validating Your Research. I pointed out the top earlier, which chapter goes further to help you retain all of your you have “good guideline.” It teaches you how to Shepardize a Case, a task we lawyers use guarantee that the cases we are relying on are still good. If you are planning to make a situation yourself, you need to be sure you are relying on “good legislations.” These are the types of things lawyers know plenty of laypeople do not ever.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research make use of. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is get to know. Once you find the information, have to put genuine find in written form for those asked you to find the product. This chapter provides essentials for writing a legal memorandum. Not only thorough as the semester class most first year law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. Can be a brief section about going to court and legal court process and about a couple pages on finding and dealing with an attorney at law.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is really because lawyer improve by case studies and examples that this chapter provides a research problem, how find the facts, and then how to approach rare to research. It’s very short, the software will supply the non-lawyer just a little example of how to from the law and try finding your solution.
The book chapters stop here onpage 255. The next 100 plus pages is a glossary, which a person usually need whether they have had a legal dictionary. Nolo actually is sufffering from a simple legal dictionary that will not replace “Black’s” but is a superb resource. Then there’s a short appendix on topics also as an index.
Overall, I think this book could be very valuable for the person who wants or needs to do legal research but does not know where do you start. If you need to do-it-yourself, information can lead the manner for you. It is a very good description of the legal research process for those without a law degree.
