Not everybody can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal information. In law school we access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty when you got out and started working towards. Many firms have one or the other, and I reckon that large firms may subscribe to both. Despite access to one of these, I discovered that I can often find things faster and easier with free resources. Many states have statutes and such on-line these days. More and more are becoming available on a daily basis.
That’s where the book “Legal Research” does its part. It legal act provides for you to follow research methods to assist you answer your legal questions. The book has sections for on-line research too as the specifics of law libraries for those who have use of one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Regulations Basics with the Law. Brief descriptions of what the law is, involving law, state versus federal law, as well as the court structure. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, it is a good be released.
Two: Finding Legal Learning websites. This chapter explains where legal the key located, primary and secondary sources, internet resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. Costly Lexis and Westlaw, additionally other sites that are free of charge. I like the tips and warnings through the book too. Good caution that every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to somebody that had it drilled into them during law school, but most likely not known ordinarily laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. In order to know before you go looking, like is the case civil or criminal, figuring the area of law extra flab to research, what resources will a person to with what you need to find, and working out your legal research question. This is important, you wish to know that which you are really interested in 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, et cetera. Many lawyers will possess a lot in their kinds of resources, may will find even more at legislation library. This chapter provides a brief an assessment what these sources might be.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Components the bulk of 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 and also rules and ordinances. Just about all these are vital depending on top of your particular factor. This chapter is a good introduction for this world of “laws” for people 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 planned. These cases interpreted laws and currently employ 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 how you can use citations to find cases, find cases around the internet, find cases in the law catalogue.
Seven: Using Case Law. This chapter actually explains what a case is, the way that they are published, and how cases affect later disagreements. If you matter utilizes case law, this chapter will a person to.
Eight: Validating Your Look. I pointed out the end earlier, which chapter goes further support you guaranteed that you have “good police.” It teaches you tips on how to Shepardize a Case, an operation we lawyers use guarantee that the cases we are relying on are still good. If you are wanting make in instances yourself, you must be sure you are relying on “good .” These are the regarding things lawyers know that many laypeople never.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research to use. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is get to know. Once you find the information, have to put what you find in written form for those asked you to find it. This chapter provides fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Not as thorough currently being the semester class most fresh law students take, but good for your non-lawyer. Can be a brief section about going to the court and the legal court process and approximately a couple pages on finding and with a legal practitioner.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is they lawyer improve by case studies and examples that this chapter the research problem, how to find the facts, and then how to approach realistic to research. It’s very short, the software will provide the non-lawyer a little example of how to with the law and accomplish finding your answer.
The book chapters stop here onpage 255. The other 100 plus pages is a glossary, which a person definitely would not need they were a legal dictionary. Nolo actually possess a simple legal dictionary which don’t replace “Black’s” but is an efficient resource. Then there is a short appendix on topics along with an index.
Overall, Feel this book could be very valuable for the one that wants or needs to enjoy legal research but does not know the place to begin. If you are forced to do-it-yourself, information can lead the mode. It is a very good description belonging to the legal research process for those without legislation degree.