Not everyone can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal web sites. In law school we had access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty for when you got out and started practicing. Many firms have one or the other, and Just maybe large firms may in order to both. Even with access to one of these, I recognize that I often find things faster and much easier with free resources. Many states have statutes and the like on-line these days. More and more are becoming available quite frequently.
That’s exactly where book “Legal Research” obtainable. It provides for you to follow research methods to assist you common law library answer your legal questions. Course . has sections for on-line research also as specifics of law libraries for people that have to be able to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Knowing Basics among the Law. Brief descriptions of the things the law is, regarding law, state versus federal law, as well as the court structure. Too basic for an attorney, however for the layperson the book was written for, this can be a good intro.
Two: Finding Legal Resources. This chapter explains where legal facts are located, primary and secondary sources, online resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. It includes Lexis and Westlaw, furthermore other sites that have the freedom. I like the tips and warnings through the actual book also. Good caution that not every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to somebody 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 for you to go looking, like may be the case civil or criminal, figuring the area of law would like to to research, what resources will a person to with may well be a to find, and deciding on your legal research subject. This is important, you need to know what you’re really hunting for before planning searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Experts. 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 attorneys will possess a lot because of kinds of resources, may will find even more at a law library. This chapter provides brief a closer look at what these sources normally.
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 identify these resources and protect yourself with them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations together with other rules and ordinances. Each of these are vital depending on top of your particular factor. This chapter is a positive introduction for this world of “laws” for the people that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. A lot of our law is not found in statutes, but in the decisions of cases that have already been decided. These cases interpreted laws and have been 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 the right way to use citations to find cases, find cases on your internet, find cases inside of law catalogue.
Seven: Using Case Law. This chapter actually explains what a case is, how they are published, and how cases affect later disputes. If you matter utilizes case law, this chapter will to be able to.
Eight: Validating Your Seek. I pointed out the top earlier, and this chapter goes further to help you guaranteed that you have “good police.” It teaches you how to Shepardize a Case, an operation we lawyers use certain the cases we are relying on are still good. Purchasing are planning to make in instances yourself, you’ll want to be sure you are relying on “good policies.” These are the regarding things lawyers know which laypeople don’t.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research unit. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is studies. Once you find the information, have to put genuine find in written form for things that asked you to find it. This chapter provides fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Quite a bit less thorough currently being the semester class most novice law students take, but good for your non-lawyer. However a brief section about going to court and the judge process and about a couple pages on finding and working with an attorney at law.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is they lawyer improve by case studies and examples that this chapter provides a research problem, how to discover the facts, and then how to approach motor oil to research. It’s very short, the software will necessary non-lawyer just a little example of methods to with the law and do finding your solution.
The book chapters stop here on-page 255. The following 100 plus pages can be a glossary, that your person would not need should they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually comes with a simple legal dictionary that won’t replace “Black’s” but is a good resource. Plus there is a short appendix on topics plus an index.
Overall, I do think this book could be very valuable for the one that wants or needs to enjoy legal research but does not know where to begin. If you need to do-it-yourself, this guide can lead the manner for you. It is a very good description belonging to the legal research process for anyone without a law degree.