Not everybody can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal resources. In law school we were treated to access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty because you got out and started working towards. Many firms have one or the other, and I’m assuming large firms may to be able to both. Even with access to a single of these, I realize that I often find things faster and easier with free resources. Many states have statutes and such on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available often.
That’s if the book “Legal Research” comes in. It provides common law library simple to follow research methods to assist you answer your legal questions. System has sections for on-line research as well as info about 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: Regulations Basics with the Law. Brief descriptions of the things the law is, reasons for law, state versus federal law, as well as the court system. Too basic for an attorney, however for the layperson the book was written for, this is a good intro.
Two: Finding Legal Resources. This chapter explains where legal the key located, primary and secondary sources, internet resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. Consists of Lexis and Westlaw, additionally other sites that are free. I like the guidelines and warnings through out the book also. Good caution doesn’t every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to somebody that had it drilled into them during law school, but probably not known since laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know before you go looking, like will be the case civil or criminal, figuring the area of law you would like to research, what resources will assist you with what you need to find, and deciding on your legal research trouble. This is important, you wish to know what you’re really interested in before planning searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Resources for the article. This chapter explores sources such the way 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 have a lot because of kinds of resources, and you will find even more at legislation library. This chapter provides for a brief brief review what these sources might be.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Components the almost all legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how uncover these resources and how to use them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations and other rules and ordinances. Both of these tend to be crucial depending on top of your particular issue. This chapter is an honest introduction to this world of “laws” for anyone 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 already have been decided. These cases interpreted laws and are usually the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is individuals a famous case is actually looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn easy methods to use citations to find cases, find cases on your internet, find cases each morning law catalogue.
Seven: Using Case Legal system. This chapter actually explains what an incident is, where did they are published, and how cases affect later differences. If you matter relies upon case law, this chapter will help you.
Eight: Validating Your Analysis. I pointed out the top earlier, see chapter goes further that can you acquiring you have “good legal.” It teaches you how to Shepardize a Case, a task we lawyers use certain the cases we are relying on are still good. An individual are wanting make in a situation yourself, develop be sure you are relying on “good legislations.” These are the forms of things lawyers know lots of laypeople can’t.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research make use of. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is preparation. Once you find the information, you must put what you find in written form for those asked you find the concept. This chapter provides fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Quite a bit less thorough when your semester class most novice law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. However a brief section about going to the court and the judge process resulting in a couple pages on finding and dealing with a lawyer.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is really because lawyer overcome case studies and examples that this chapter provides a research problem, how learn the facts, and then how to approach rare to research. It’s very short, it will give the non-lawyer just a little example of how to look at the law and go about finding the way to go.
The book chapters stop here on page 255. The next 100 plus pages is really a glossary, which a person definitely would not need they were a legal dictionary. Nolo actually comes with a simple legal dictionary that will not replace “Black’s” but is an efficient resource. There is a short appendix on topics plus an index.
Overall, Folks this book could be very valuable for the one that wants or needs to attempt legal research but doesn’t know where to begin. If you must do-it-yourself, information can lead the chance. It is a very good description in the legal research process for all those without a law degree.