Legal Research – How to locate & Understand the Law
Not anyone can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal services. In law school there were access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty when ever you got out and started studying. Many firms have or even more the other, and I suppose large firms may in order to both. Despite access to 1 of these, I see I often find things faster and much easier with free resources. Many states have statutes and such on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available all the time.
That’s where the book “Legal Research” does its part. It provides for you to follow common law library research methods to aid you answer your legal questions. System has sections for on-line research too as specifics of law libraries for those who have in order to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Knowing Basics of your Law. Brief descriptions of what the law is, sources of law, state versus federal law, as well as the court routine. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, this can be a good rewards.
Two: Finding Legal Equipment. This chapter explains where legal the key located, primary and secondary sources, websites for legal topics, and legal research websites. Costly Lexis and Westlaw, however other sites that cost nothing. I like the ideas and warnings through out the book as well. Good caution not 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. In order to know an individual go looking, like is the case civil or criminal, figuring out the area of law would like to to research, what resources will a person to with may well be a to find, and figuring out your legal research trouble. This is important, you want to know what you’re really in need of before you decide to searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Vendors. 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 many. Many legal businesses will possess a lot of these kinds of resources, an individual also will find even more at legislation library. This chapter provides brief an assessment what these sources normally.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Are generally generally 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 along with rules and ordinances. Each of these tend to be crucial depending into your particular issue. This chapter is a good introduction for this world of “laws” for the people that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Some of our law is not found in statutes, however in the decisions of cases that have already been created the decision. These cases interpreted laws and are now 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 easy methods to use citations to find cases, find cases on the internet, find cases each morning law catalogue.
Seven: Using Case Law. This chapter actually explains what in instances is, that they are published, and how cases affect later arguments. If you matter depends upon case law, this chapter will a person to.
Eight: Validating Your Research. I pointed out the tip earlier, so, as chapter goes further aid you make sure you have “good guideline.” It teaches you how to Shepardize a Case, an activity we lawyers use guarantee that the cases we are relying on are still good. An individual are searching make in instances yourself, you must be sure you are relying on “good .” These are the associated with things lawyers know which laypeople never.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research unit. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is preparation. Once you find the information, you must put genuine find in written form for things that asked a person find the concept. This chapter provides the basics for writing a legal memorandum. Quite a bit less thorough while the semester class most novice law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. There is a brief section about going to the court and the court process leading to a couple pages on finding and with a personal injury lawyer.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it happens because lawyer learn by case studies and examples that this chapter a new research problem, how to discover the facts, and then how to approach rare to studying. It’s very short, it will provide the non-lawyer a little example of how to with the law and go about finding your answer.
The book chapters stop here on-page 255. Another 100 plus pages is a glossary, which a person would not need they were a legal dictionary. Nolo actually uses a simple legal dictionary that will not replace “Black’s” but is the best resource. Plus there is a short appendix on topics also index.
Overall, Amazingly exciting . this book could be very valuable for the person who wants or needs to do legal research but doesn’t know where to start. If you are required to do-it-yourself, this guide can lead the opportunity. It is a very good description of this legal research process for any without a law degree.
