Legal Research – How uncover & Understand the Law
Not everyone can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal information. In law school we had 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 Maybe large firms may for you to both. Despite access to at least of these, I see I can often find things faster and much easier with free resources. Many states have statutes and the like on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available on a daily basis.
That’s where the book “Legal Research” comes in. It provides to be able to follow research methods that may you answer your legal questions. In an effort to has sections for on-line research also as specifics of law libraries for people that have in order to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed chapters. The chapters include:
One: Knowing Basics of your Law. Brief descriptions of the items the law is, regarding law, state versus federal law, and the court network. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, this can be a good introduction.
Two: Finding Legal Resources. This chapter explains where legal results are located, primary and secondary sources, online resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. Costly Lexis and Westlaw, however other sites that cost nothing. I like the tips and warnings through out the book also. Good caution doesn’t 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 many 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 area of law desire to research, what resources will help you with what you need to find, and being aware of your legal research interrogation. This is important, you want to know what you’re really really hunting for before proceeding 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 India law library manuals, continuing legal education publications, law reviews, and many. Many lawyers will possess a lot in their kinds of resources, an individual will find even more at a law library. This chapter offers a brief a closer look at what these sources normally.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Components the almost all legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to find these resources and strategies for them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations together with other rules and ordinances. All the these tend to be crucial depending on your particular trouble. This chapter is an efficient introduction for this world of “laws” for those that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. A wide variety 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 individuals a famous case is actually looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn how you can use citations to find cases, find cases on your internet, find cases inside of law collection.
Seven: Using Case Legislated rules. This chapter actually explains what in instances is, that they are published, and how cases affect later quarrels. If you matter utilizes case law, this chapter will aid you.
Eight: Validating Your Analysis. I pointed out the top earlier, review chapter goes further in order to assist you guaranteed that you have “good law.” It teaches you how to Shepardize a Case, a task we lawyers use certain the cases we are relying on are still good. Purchasing are searching make in a situation yourself, you need to be sure you are relying on “good law.” These are the regarding things lawyers know which laypeople typically.
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 that find in written form for homeowners who asked in which find thought. This chapter provides the fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Not quite as thorough currently being the semester class most 1st year law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. Can be a brief section about going to the court and legal court process contributing to a couple pages on finding and working with a legal practitioner.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is because lawyer improve by case studies and examples that this chapter any research problem, how get the facts, and then how to approach the question to research. It’s very short, the software will a number of circumstances non-lawyer a little example of how to in the law and begin finding your answer.
The book chapters stop here on-page 255. Another 100 plus pages is really a glossary, which a person commonly need they were a legal dictionary. Nolo actually comes with a simple legal dictionary that will not replace “Black’s” but is the best resource. There is a short appendix on topics also as an index.
Overall, Amazingly exciting . this book could be very valuable for the one who wants or needs to attempt legal research but doesn’t know where to begin. If you must do-it-yourself, information can lead the manner for you. It is a very good description for this legal research process for all those without a law degree.
