Not everybody can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal natural resources. In law school there were access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty when you got out and started training. Many firms have one or the other, and Just maybe large firms may subscribe to both. Despite access to one of these, I recognize that I can often find common law library things faster and much easier with free resources. Many states have statutes and such on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available normally.
That’s when the book “Legal Research” does its part. It provides for you to follow research methods that may you answer your legal questions. The book has sections for on-line research too as info about law libraries for those that have in order to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed chapters. The chapters include:
One: Understanding the Basics among the Law. Brief descriptions with the the law is, reasons for law, state versus federal law, as well as the court routine. Too basic for an attorney, however for the layperson the book was written for, this is the good acclimatation.
Two: Finding Legal Learning websites. This chapter explains where legal information and facts is located, primary and secondary sources, internet resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. Consists of Lexis and Westlaw, but also other sites that are free. I like the information and warnings through the book as well. Good caution that not every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to a person that had it drilled into them during law school, but probably not known many laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know to be able to go looking, like is the case civil or criminal, figuring the actual area of law desire to research, what resources will allow you with what you need to find, and finding out your legal research trouble. This is important, you want to know what you’re really really seeking before you travel searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Resources for the article. 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, may will find even more at legislation library. This chapter provides for a brief overview of what these sources might be.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Are generally generally the majority 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 and also rules and ordinances. Both of these tend to be crucial depending against your particular hassle. This chapter is a superior introduction for this world of “laws” for those that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Much of our law is not found in statutes, but in the decisions of cases that formerly been figured. 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 you can use citations to find cases, find cases on the internet, find cases inside of law catalogue.
Seven: Using Case Law. This chapter actually explains what an incident is, how they are published, and how cases affect later arguments. If you matter utilizes case law, this chapter will aid you.
Eight: Validating Your Analysis. I pointed out the end earlier, which chapter goes further aid you specialist you have “good police.” It teaches you the way to Shepardize a Case, an operation we lawyers use certain the cases we are relying on are still good. An individual are searching make in a situation yourself, you need to be sure you are relying on “good .” These are the kinds of things lawyers know plenty of laypeople can’t.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research using. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is preparation. Once you find the information, you put that find in written form for things that asked a person find the product. This chapter provides fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Not as thorough currently being the semester class most first year law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. Is actually a brief section about going to court and the judge process resulting in a couple pages on finding and dealing with a personal injury lawyer.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is mainly because lawyer improve by case studies and examples that this chapter supplies a research problem, how to find the facts, and then how to approach realistic to knowledge. It’s very short, and so it will give the non-lawyer a little example of how to from the law and try 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 does not need if they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually uses a simple legal dictionary which will not replace “Black’s” but is a good resource. There is a short appendix on topics along with an index.
Overall, I think this book could be very valuable for the individual that wants or needs to enjoy legal research but doesn’t know where to begin. If you must do-it-yourself, information can lead the opportunity. It is a very good description belonging to the legal research process for anyone without legislation degree.