Not everyone is able to 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 when you got out and started could. Many firms have or even more the other, and Maybe large firms may for you to both. Even with access to a single of these, I recognize that I can frequently find things faster and easier with free resources. Many states have statutes etc on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available on a daily basis.
That’s where the book “Legal Research” does its part. It provides easy to follow research methods to aid you answer your legal questions. The book has sections for on-line research as well as information regarding law libraries for people who have in order to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Understanding the Basics of the Law. Brief descriptions of the things the law is, regarding law, state versus federal law, and also 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 results are located, primary and secondary sources, internet resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. It offers Lexis and Westlaw, however additionally other sites that cost nothing. I like the ideas and warnings through the actual book too. Good caution does not every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to one who had it drilled into them during law school, but probably not known numerous laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. In order to know an individual go looking, like may be the case civil or criminal, figuring the actual area of law desire to research, what resources will help you with try not to to find, and working out your legal research trouble. This is important, you wish to know what you are really looking for before planning searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Experts. This chapter explores sources such the way resources (common law library 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 legal businesses will possess a lot of your kinds of resources, an individual also will find even more at a law library. This chapter provides a brief report on what these sources are.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Are generally generally the bulk of legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to these resources and guidelines them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations and other rules and ordinances. All the these tend to be crucial depending against your particular issue. This chapter is a good introduction to this world of “laws” for those that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Quantity our law is not found in statutes, but in the decisions of cases that previously been planned. These cases interpreted laws and are usually the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is one of 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 catalogue.
Seven: Using Case Legal system. This chapter actually explains what in a situation is, how they are published, and how cases affect later disagreements. If you matter depends upon case law, this chapter will aid you.
Eight: Validating Your Analysis. I pointed out the tip earlier, and this chapter goes further to help you make sure you have “good law.” It teaches you ways to Shepardize a Case, a task we lawyers use to make sure the cases we are relying on are still good. An individual are trying to make a situation yourself, you must be sure you are relying on “good law.” These are the kinds of things lawyers know plenty of laypeople typically.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research to use. 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 athletes that asked you find it. This chapter provides fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Much less thorough as the semester class most first year law students take, but good for your non-lawyer. Is actually a brief section about going to court and the judge process contributing to a couple pages on finding and working with an attorney at law.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is because lawyer overcome case studies and examples that this chapter the research problem, how learn the facts, and then how to approach the question to research. It’s very short, so it will supply the non-lawyer a little example of methods to look at the law and accomplish finding the way to go.
The book chapters stop here onpage 255. The other 100 plus pages is often a glossary, which a person definitely would not need whether they have had a legal dictionary. Nolo actually comes with a simple legal dictionary that won’t replace “Black’s” but is an efficient resource. There is a short appendix on topics also index.
Overall, Amazingly exciting . this book could be very valuable for the individual who wants or needs to enjoy legal research but doesn’t know the place to begin. 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 all those without a law degree.