Not everybody can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal resources. In law school there were access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty for when you got out and started working towards. Many firms have or even more the other, and I suppose large firms may subscribe to both. Despite access to at least of these, I see I often find things faster and much easier with free resources. Many states have statutes and the like on-line these days. More and more are becoming available normally.
That’s when the book “Legal Research” accessible. It provides simple follow research methods to assist you answer your legal questions. Was created to promote has sections for on-line research too as info on law libraries for those that have to be able to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed chapters. The chapters include:
One: Understanding the Basics from the Law. Brief descriptions of the items the law is, associated with law, state versus federal law, along with the court unit. Too basic for an attorney, however for the layperson the book was written for, this can be a good introduction.
Two: Finding Legal Websites. This chapter explains where legal facts are located, primary and secondary sources, online resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. It includes Lexis and Westlaw, however additionally other sites that are free. I like the tips and warnings through the book as well. Good caution does not every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to somebody that had it Indian law library drilled into them during law school, but probably not known ordinarily laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know to be able to go looking, like could be the case civil or criminal, figuring the actual area of law extra flab to research, what resources will assist you with try not to to find, and figuring out your legal research question. This is important, you wish to know what you’re really in need of before you decide to searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Sources. 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 of these kinds of resources, and you will find even more at legislation library. This chapter gives a brief an assessment what these sources might be.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. These are the almost all legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how uncover these resources and guidelines them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations along with rules and ordinances. All of these are vital depending into your particular provide. This chapter is an honest introduction for this world of “laws” for people that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. A lot of our law is not found in statutes, however in the decisions of cases that formerly been figured. These cases interpreted laws and have been the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is in the following paragraphs a famous case is actually looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn how to use citations to find cases, find cases through the internet, find cases your law collection.
Seven: Using Case . This chapter actually explains what an instance is, how they are published, and how cases affect later disputes. If you matter depends upon case law, this chapter will help you.
Eight: Validating Your Analysis. I pointed out the top earlier, and this chapter goes further to help you guaranteed that you have “good police.” It teaches you the best way to Shepardize a Case, a procedure we lawyers use certain the cases we are relying on are still good. Content articles are planning to make a situation yourself, you need to be sure you are relying on “good laws.” These are the types of things lawyers know plenty of laypeople do not ever.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research to use. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is research. Once you find the information, ought to put genuine find in written form for things that asked you to find thought. This chapter provides fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Much less thorough when your semester class most fresh law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. However a brief section about going to court and the court process and approximately a couple pages on finding and with a legal counsel.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is because lawyer overcome case studies and examples that this chapter provides a research problem, how to find the facts, and then how to approach the question to research. It’s very short, it will give the non-lawyer a little example of methods to the the law and go about finding the way to go.
The book chapters stop here on page 255. The other 100 plus pages is really a glossary, that your person does not need when they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually has a simple legal dictionary that will not replace “Black’s” but decent resource. Then there is a short appendix on topics also index.
Overall, I think this book could be very valuable for the one that wants or needs to do legal research but does not know where to begin. If you must do-it-yourself, this guide can lead the opportunity. It is a very good description belonging to the legal research process for anyone without legislation degree.