Not everybody is able to afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal resources. In law school there were access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty because you got out and started practicing. Many firms have one or the other, and I reckon that large firms may for you to both. Even with access to 1 of these, I find that I can sometimes find things faster and easier with free resources. Many states have statutes and the like on-line these days. More and more are becoming available often.
That’s where the book “Legal Research” accessible. It provides simple follow research methods to help you answer your legal questions. Course . has sections for on-line research as well as the specifics of law libraries for those who have access to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Learning the Basics with the Law. Brief descriptions of the items the law is, regarding law, state versus federal law, and the court structure. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, this is the good introduction.
Two: Finding Legal Learning websites. This Indian law library chapter explains where legal information is located, primary and secondary sources, websites for legal topics, and legal research websites. It offers Lexis and Westlaw, additionally other sites that are free. I like the guidelines and warnings through out the book too. 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 to many laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know in order to go looking, like could be the case civil or criminal, figuring the actual area of law you want to research, what resources will a person to with the simple fact is to find, and being aware of your legal research trouble. This is important, you need to know that which you are really hunting for before you decide to searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Resources for the article. This chapter explores sources such exactly how 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 lawyers will have a lot of these kinds of resources, an individual will find even more at a law library. This chapter provides brief overview of what these sources normally.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. These are the bulk of legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to obtain these resources and how to use them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations together with other rules and ordinances. All of these are essential depending into your particular factor. This chapter is a good 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 created the decision. These cases interpreted laws and have been 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 tips on how to use citations to find cases, find cases through the internet, find cases in the law collection.
Seven: Using Case Statute. This chapter actually explains what an incident is, how they are published, and how cases affect later disputes. If you matter utilizes case law, this chapter will a person to.
Eight: Validating Your Look. I pointed out the tip earlier, review chapter goes further that can you acquiring you have “good legal.” It teaches you ways to Shepardize a Case, a procedure we lawyers use to make sure the cases we are relying on are still good. If you are trying to make in a situation yourself, you need to be sure you are relying on “good laws.” These are the kinds of things lawyers know lots of laypeople don’t.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research to be able to. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is research. Once you find the information, will need to put what you find in written form for those that asked in which find the concept. This chapter provides the fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Not only thorough even though the semester class most 1st year law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. Genuine effort . a brief section about going to court and a legal court process resulting in a couple pages on finding and working with a legal counsel.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is they lawyer improve by case studies and examples that this chapter supplies a research problem, how to find the facts, and then how to approach yet to research. It’s very short, and so it will provide the non-lawyer a little example of methods to from the law and try finding the way to go.
The book chapters stop here onpage 255. Your next 100 plus pages can be a glossary, which a person would not need whether they have had a legal dictionary. Nolo actually has a simple legal dictionary that won’t replace “Black’s” but is the best resource. Plus there is a short appendix on topics plus an index.
Overall, Amazingly exciting . this book could be very valuable for the individual who wants or needs to enjoy legal research but does not know the place to begin. If you have to do-it-yourself, information can lead the mode. It is a very good description in the legal research process for everyone without a law degree.