Not everyone can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal services. In law school there were access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty when you got out and started working towards. Many firms have or even more the other, and I reckon that large firms may in order to both. Even with access a minimum of one of these, I recognize that I might find things faster and easier with free resources. Many states have statutes and such on-line these days. More and more are becoming available normally.
That’s when the book “Legal Research” comes in. It provides easy to follow research methods enable you answer your legal questions. In an effort to has sections for on-line research as well as information regarding law libraries for those that have access to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Learning the Basics with the Law. Brief descriptions of what the law is, associated with law, state versus federal law, as well as the court system. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, this is the good acclimatation.
Two: Finding Legal Learning websites. This chapter explains where legal information is located, primary and secondary sources, internet resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. Costly Lexis and Westlaw, however additionally other sites that cost nothing. I like the guidelines and warnings through the actual 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 many laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know before you go looking, like will be the case civil or criminal, figuring the area of law extra flab to research, what resources will allow you with try not to to find, and deciding on your legal research ponder. This is important, you want to know actually really interested in before you decide to searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Information. 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 law firms will possess a lot top kinds of resources, may will find even more at legislation library. This chapter gives a brief an assessment what these sources are.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Of the the majority of legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to 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. Each of these are important depending on your own own particular hassle. This chapter is an efficient introduction to 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 figured. 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 is 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 your law catalogue.
Seven: Using Case Legislated rules. This chapter actually explains what in instances is, that they are published, and how cases affect later arguments. If you matter depends upon case law, this chapter will a person to.
Eight: Validating Your Research. I pointed out the top earlier, and this chapter goes further aid you guaranteed that you have “good legal.” It teaches you the way to Indian law library Shepardize a Case, an operation we lawyers use to create the cases we are relying on are still good. Purchasing are searching make in a situation yourself, develop be sure you are relying on “good laws.” These are the regarding things lawyers know that many laypeople can’t.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research to use. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is research. Once you find the information, ought to put genuine find in written form for those asked you to find it. This chapter provides fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Much less thorough even though the semester class most fresh law students take, but good for the non-lawyer. Is actually a brief section about going to court and 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 really because lawyer overcome case studies and examples that this chapter the research problem, how to find the facts, and then how to approach rare to become familiar with. It’s very short, and so it will supply the non-lawyer a little example of how to with the law and begin finding the way to go.
The book chapters stop here onpage 255. Your next 100 plus pages can be a glossary, which a person would not need whether they have had a legal dictionary. Nolo actually is sufffering from a simple legal dictionary that won’t replace “Black’s” but is the best resource. Then there’s a short appendix on topics and an index.
Overall, Amazingly exciting . this book could be very valuable for the individual that wants or needs to enjoy legal research but doesn’t know where do you start. If you must do-it-yourself, this guide can lead the manner for you. It is a very good description for this legal research process for all those without legislation degree.