Legal Research – How to find & Understand the Law
Not everybody can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal resources. In law school we’d access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty because you got out and started studying. Many firms have or even more the other, and I suppose large firms may in order to both. Despite access to 1 of these, I find that I can frequently find things faster and simpler with free resources. Many states have statutes and the like on-line these days. More and more are becoming available on a daily basis.
That’s exactly where book “Legal Research” does its part. It provides simple follow research methods to assist you answer your legal questions. The book has sections for on-line research as well as info about law libraries for people who have in order to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed chapters. The chapters include:
One: Knowing Basics among the Law. Brief descriptions from the the law is, sources of law, state versus federal law, and also the court system. Too basic for an attorney, however for the layperson the book was written for, this is the good intro.
Two: Finding Legal Resources. This chapter explains where legal information is located, primary and secondary sources, websites for legal topics, and legal research websites. Costly Lexis and Westlaw, but also other sites that have the freedom. I like the guidelines and warnings through the book too. Good caution doesn’t every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to another kid that had it drilled into them during law school, but most likely not known since laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know for you to go looking, like may be the case civil or criminal, figuring out the area of law would like to to research, what resources will allow you with may well be a to find, and figuring out your legal research subject. This is important, you need to know what you’re really hunting for before you decide to searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Sources. This chapter explores sources such marketing and advertising resources (including a bit about deciding if reliable), self-help legal act books, legal encyclopedias, form books, practice manuals, continuing legal education publications, law reviews, as well as the. Many law firms will possess a lot in their kinds of resources, may will find even more at legislation library. This chapter provides brief report on what these sources might be.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Components the almost all legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how identify these resources and increase your website’s traffic them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations and also rules and ordinances. Both of these are vital depending on your particular trouble. This chapter is a superior introduction to this world of “laws” for the people 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 have grown to be the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is an example of a famous case which usually is looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn the right way to use citations to find cases, find cases on your internet, find cases each morning law archive.
Seven: Using Case Statute. This chapter actually explains what an instance is, where did they are published, and how cases affect later differences. If you matter relies upon case law, this chapter will help you.
Eight: Validating Your Seek. I pointed out the end earlier, see chapter goes further support you guaranteed that you have “good police.” It teaches you the way to Shepardize a Case, a procedure we lawyers use certain the cases we are relying on are still good. Prone to are planning to make a suit yourself, will have to be sure you are relying on “good .” These are the types of things lawyers know a number of laypeople never.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research using. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is get to know. Once you find the information, you must put genuine find in written form for those asked you to find the concept. This chapter provides the basics for writing a legal memorandum. Not quite as thorough even though the semester class most 1st year law students take, but good for your non-lawyer. Can be a brief section about going to court and the judge process leading to a couple pages on finding and working with a personal injury lawyer.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it happens because lawyer improve by case studies and examples that this chapter provides a research problem, how to find the facts, and then how to approach yet to studying. It’s very short, that this will provide the non-lawyer just 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 is often a glossary, that your person does not need they were a legal dictionary. Nolo actually comes with a simple legal dictionary that wont replace “Black’s” but is a good resource. Then there’s a short appendix on topics also index.
Overall, Amazingly exciting . this book could be very valuable for the one who wants or needs you need to do legal research but does not know where do you start. If you must do-it-yourself, this guide can lead the way. It is a very good description belonging to the legal research process for any without legislation degree.
