Not everyone is able to afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal information. In law school there were access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty when ever you got out and started working towards. Many firms have much more the other, and Just maybe large firms may to be able to both. Even with access to one of these, I discovered that I might find things faster and simpler with free resources. Many states have statutes and such on-line these days. More and more are becoming available quite frequently.
That’s area book “Legal Research” comes in. It provides easy to follow research methods that may you answer your legal questions. In an effort to has sections for on-line research too as the specifics of law libraries for those that have use of one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Regulations Basics from the Law. Brief descriptions from the the law is, involving law, state versus federal law, and 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 Resources. This chapter explains where legal information and facts is located, primary and secondary sources, internet resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. Costly Lexis and Westlaw, but also other sites that are free of charge. I like the ideas and warnings through out the book as well. Good caution that 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 numerous laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. In order to know to be able to go looking, like will be the case civil or criminal, figuring out the area of law would like to to research, what resources will a person to with the simple fact is to find, and working out your legal research subject. This is important, you need to know what you are really in need of before planning 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 many. Many attorneys will possess a lot top kinds of resources, may will find even more at legislation library. This chapter offers a brief overview of what these sources have always been.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Of the the majority of legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to find these resources and protect yourself with them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations and other rules and ordinances. All of these are essential depending on your own own particular provide. This chapter is an honest introduction to this world of “laws” for all those 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 previously been figured. These cases interpreted laws and are usually the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is difficulties are people a famous case which is looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn how to use citations to find cases, find cases on the internet, find cases your law library.
Seven: Using Case Legislated rules. This chapter actually explains what in instances is, how they are published, and how cases affect later legal act differences. If you matter relies on case law, this chapter will assist.
Eight: Validating Your Analysis. I pointed out the tip earlier, and this chapter goes further support you make sure you have “good legal.” It teaches you the best way to Shepardize a Case, a process we lawyers use guarantee that the cases we are relying on are still good. Purchasing are wanting make in instances yourself, you must be sure you are relying on “good .” These are the associated with things lawyers know which laypeople do not ever.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research using. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is studies. Once you find the information, have to put that find in written form for things that asked you find the concept. This chapter provides fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Not as thorough when your semester class most fresh law students take, but good for the non-lawyer. Is actually a brief section about going to the court and the court process and about a couple pages on finding and with a lawyer.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is they lawyer improve by case studies and examples that this chapter provides a research problem, how to discover the facts, and then how to approach motor oil to studying. It’s very short, the software will a number of circumstances non-lawyer a little example of methods to in the law and accomplish finding the way to go.
The book chapters stop here onpage 255. Your next 100 plus pages is often a glossary, which a person would not need should they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually uses a simple legal dictionary that wont replace “Black’s” but is a superb resource. As there are 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 where to begin. If you are required to do-it-yourself, this guide can lead the way. It is a very good description of the legal research process for all those without legislation degree.