Not everyone can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal web sites. In law school we 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 Maybe large firms may to be able to both. Even with access to at least of these, I discovered that I can often find things faster and easier with free resources. Many states have statutes and such on-line these days. More and more are becoming available quite frequently.
That’s exactly where book “Legal Research” will be in. It provides for you to follow legal act research methods to help you answer your legal questions. The book has sections for on-line research too as info on law libraries for those that have access to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed chapters. The chapters include:
One: Understanding the Basics of the Law. Brief descriptions of what the law is, involving law, state versus federal law, along with the court system. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, this can be a good be released.
Two: Finding Legal Learning websites. This chapter explains where legal information is located, primary and secondary sources, internet resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. It offers Lexis and Westlaw, additionally other sites that cost nothing. I like the guidelines and warnings through the book as well. Good caution that every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to somebody that had it drilled into them during law school, but probably not known ordinarily laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know in order to go looking, like is the case civil or criminal, figuring out the area of law extra flab to research, what resources will a person to with the simple fact is to find, and finding out your legal research interrogation. This is important, you want to know what you are really interested in before you decide to searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Sources. 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 law firms will possess a lot because of kinds of resources, and will find even more at legislation library. This chapter provides a brief report on what these sources are typically.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Of the the almost all legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to find 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. Just about all these tend to be crucial depending on your own own particular hassle. This chapter is an efficient introduction for this world of “laws” for the people that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Much of our law is not found in statutes, however in the decisions of cases that have already been figured. These cases interpreted laws and have grown to be the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is difficulties are people a famous case which usually is looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn tips on how to use citations to find cases, find cases on your internet, find cases in the law archive.
Seven: Using Case Law. This chapter actually explains what in instances is, where did they are published, and how cases affect later differences. If you matter relies upon case law, this chapter will a person to.
Eight: Validating Your Look. I pointed out the tip earlier, see chapter goes further aid you acquiring you have “good the legal system.” It teaches you the way to Shepardize a Case, an operation we lawyers use guarantee that the cases we are relying on are still good. An individual are planning to make in a situation yourself, you’ll want to be sure you are relying on “good .” These are the associated with things lawyers know that many laypeople never.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research using. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is research. Once you find the information, ought to put what you find in written form for homeowners who asked you to find it. This chapter provides the fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Much less thorough while the semester class most novice law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. However a brief section about going to the court and the legal court process contributing to a couple pages on finding and working with a personal injury lawyer.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is because lawyer learn by case studies and examples that this chapter supplies a research problem, how to find the facts, and then how to approach realistic to research. It’s very short, the software will supply the non-lawyer just a little example of how to from the law and begin finding your answer.
The book chapters stop here on page 255. The other 100 plus pages is really a glossary, that your person definitely would not need whether they have had a legal dictionary. Nolo actually is sufffering from a simple legal dictionary which don’t replace “Black’s” but decent resource. There is a short appendix on topics and an index.
Overall, Amazingly exciting . this book could be very valuable for the one that wants or needs to attempt legal research but doesn’t know the place to begin. If you have to do-it-yourself, this guide can lead the manner for you. It is a very good description of the legal research process for any without legislation degree.
