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 practicing. Many firms have much more the other, and Just maybe large firms may for you to both. Even with access to one of these, I recognize that I often 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” obtainable. It provides for you to follow research methods to assist you answer your legal questions. Course . has sections for on-line research as well as information regarding law libraries for those who have regarding one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Learning the Basics from the Law. Brief descriptions of the items 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 is 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. Consists of Lexis and Westlaw, furthermore other sites that are free. I like the information and warnings through the actual book as well. Good legal act caution not every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to somebody that had it drilled into them during law school, but most likely not known to many laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. In order to know to be able to go looking, like is the case civil or criminal, figuring the area of law desire to research, what resources will help you with may well be a to find, and figuring out your legal research subject. This is important, you wish to know what you’re really really hunting for before you go 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 manuals, continuing legal education publications, law reviews, and so on. Many attorneys will have a lot in their kinds of resources, may will find even more at a law library. This chapter provides brief brief review what these sources might be.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Are generally generally the majority of legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how identify 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. Both of these are vital depending on your own own particular factor. This chapter is a positive introduction for this world of “laws” for anyone that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Quantity our law is not found in statutes, but in the decisions of cases that have already been decided. These cases interpreted laws and have been the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is one of a famous case that 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 library.
Seven: Using Case Legal system. This chapter actually explains what a case is, where did they are published, and how cases affect later disputes. If you matter utilizes case law, this chapter will help you.
Eight: Validating Your Seek. I pointed out the top earlier, which chapter goes further to help you guaranteed that you have “good legal.” It teaches you how to Shepardize a Case, an operation we lawyers use certain the cases we are relying on are still good. Prone to are planning to make in instances yourself, you must be sure you are relying on “good .” These are the regarding things lawyers know plenty of laypeople typically.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research unit. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is studies. Once you find the information, ought to put genuine find in written form for homeowners who asked you find it. This chapter provides fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Quite a bit less thorough when your semester class most newbie law students take, but good for your non-lawyer. Can be a brief section about going to the court and a legal court process resulting in a couple pages on finding and working with an attorney at law.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is mainly because lawyer overcome case studies and examples that this chapter supplies a research problem, how to discover the facts, and then how to approach rare to studying. It’s very short, that this will necessary non-lawyer a little example of how to the the law and try finding your solution.
The book chapters stop here on-page 255. The following 100 plus pages can be a glossary, which a person would not need should they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually comes with a simple legal dictionary that wont replace “Black’s” but is a good resource. There is a short appendix on topics plus an index.
Overall, I do think this book could be very valuable for the one that wants or needs to enjoy legal research but does not know where to start. If you need to do-it-yourself, information can lead the opportunity. It is a very good description belonging to the legal research process for everyone without a law degree.
Posted on:
February 15, 2020