Not everyone can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal natural resources. In law school we access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty for when you got out and started studying. Many firms have much more the other, and Maybe large firms may to be able to both. Even with access to one of these, I realize that I often find things faster and simpler with free resources. Many states have statutes etc on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available often.
That’s exactly where book “Legal Research” obtainable. It provides for you to follow research methods to assist you answer your legal questions. In an effort to has sections for on-line research as well as info about law libraries for people who have to be able to 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 be released.
Two: Finding Legal Websites. This chapter explains where legal information is located, primary and secondary sources, online resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. It offers Lexis and Westlaw, however other sites that have the freedom. I like the tips and warnings through out 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 since laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. In order to know for you to go looking, like is the case civil or criminal, figuring out the area of law extra flab to research, what resources will allow you with what you need to find, and finding out your legal research subject. This is important, you need to know actually really hunting for before proceeding searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Sources. This chapter explores sources such understanding of resources (including a bit about deciding if reliable), self-help legal books, legal encyclopedias, form books, practice manuals, continuing legal Indian law library education publications, law reviews, et cetera. Many attorneys will possess a lot of your kinds of resources, may will find even more at legislation library. This chapter offers a brief report on what these sources have always been.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Tend to be some the bulk of legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to 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 important depending into your particular factor. This chapter is an honest introduction for this world of “laws” for people that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Much of our law is not found in statutes, but in the decisions of cases that already have been made a decision. These cases interpreted laws and are now the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is in the following paragraphs a famous case that is looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn how to use citations to find cases, find cases on the internet, find cases within the law collection.
Seven: Using Case . This chapter actually explains what a case is, how they are published, and how cases affect later disagreements. If you matter utilizes case law, this chapter will a person to.
Eight: Validating Your Search for. I pointed out the tip earlier, see chapter goes further in order to assist you specialist you have “good legal.” It teaches you how to Shepardize a Case, a task we lawyers use to make sure the cases we are relying on are still good. Purchasing are wanting make in instances yourself, you’ll want to be sure you are relying on “good .” These are the regarding things lawyers know lots of laypeople typically.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research using. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is studies. Once you find the information, have to put true find in written form for those that asked in order to find thought. This chapter provides the basics for writing a legal memorandum. Not only thorough currently being the semester class most first year law students take, but good for your non-lawyer. Is actually a brief section about going to court and legal court process leading to a couple pages on finding and with an attorney at law.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it happens because lawyer overcome case studies and examples that this chapter a new research problem, how find the facts, and then how to approach realistic to become familiar with. It’s very short, it will provide the non-lawyer just a little example of how to with the law and begin finding the way to go.
The book chapters stop here on page 255. The next 100 plus pages is really a glossary, that your person usually need should they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually has a simple legal dictionary that wont replace “Black’s” but is the best resource. As there are a short appendix on topics along with an index.
Overall, I think this book could be very valuable for the one that wants or needs you need to do legal research but doesn’t know how to start. If you are required to do-it-yourself, information can lead the manner for you. It is a very good description of this legal research process for all those without a law degree.