Not everyone can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal natural resources. In law school we’d access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty whenever you got out and started studying. Many firms have or even more the other, and Maybe large firms may subscribe to both. Despite access to at least of these, I realize that I can sometimes find things faster and much easier with free resources. Many states have statutes etc on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available on a daily basis.
That’s area book “Legal Research” does its part. It provides easy to follow research methods to help you answer your legal questions. System has sections for on-line research also as information regarding law libraries for those that have to be able to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Understanding the Basics with the Law. Brief descriptions from the the law is, reasons for law, state versus federal law, and also the court unit. Too basic for an attorney, however for the layperson the book was written for, this may be a good be released.
Two: Finding Legal common law library Equipment. This chapter explains where legal the key located, primary and secondary sources, websites for legal topics, and legal research websites. It offers Lexis and Westlaw, but also other sites that are free of charge. I like the guidelines and warnings through the actual book also. Good caution that not every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to a person that had it 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 may be the case civil or criminal, figuring out the area of law you would like to research, what resources will help you with try not to to find, and being aware of your legal research interrogation. This is important, you need to know what you are really in need of before proceeding searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Experts. 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, as well as the. Many attorneys will possess a lot of your kinds of resources, an individual also will find even more at legislation library. This chapter offers a brief report on what these sources are.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. These are the almost all 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 together with other rules and ordinances. Both of these tend to be crucial depending on your particular provide. This chapter is a positive introduction to this world of “laws” for people that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. A lot of our law is not found in statutes, but in the decisions of cases that previously been figured. 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 which usually is looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn how you can use citations to find cases, find cases on top of the internet, find cases inside of law catalogue.
Seven: Using Case Legislated rules. This chapter actually explains what an instance is, that they are published, and how cases affect later disagreements. If you matter depends on case law, this chapter will help you.
Eight: Validating Your Look. I pointed out the tip earlier, review chapter goes further support you retain all of your you have “good law.” It teaches you the best way to Shepardize a Case, an operation we lawyers use to make sure the cases we are relying on are still good. An individual are trying to make a suit yourself, you need to be sure you are relying on “good law.” These are the associated with things lawyers know which laypeople typically.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research to use. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is studies. Once you find the information, have to put what you find in written form for those asked in order to find the product. This chapter provides fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Not quite as thorough even though 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 legal court process contributing to a couple pages on finding and dealing with a lawyer.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is because lawyer overcome case studies and examples that this chapter a new research problem, how to discover the facts, and then how to approach realistic to research. It’s very short, the software will give the non-lawyer a little example of methods to from the law and go about finding your solution.
The book chapters stop here onpage 255. The other 100 plus pages can be a glossary, that your person definitely would not need whether they have had a legal dictionary. Nolo actually uses a simple legal dictionary that won’t replace “Black’s” but is an efficient resource. As there are a short appendix on topics along with an index.
Overall, I think this book could be very valuable for the individual who wants or needs to do legal research but does not know where do you start. If you have to do-it-yourself, information can lead the mode. It is a very good description of the legal research process for all those without legislation degree.