Not everyone can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal web sites. In law school we’d access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty when you got out and started working towards. Many firms have much more the other, and Just maybe large firms may for you to both. Despite access to at least of these, I discovered that I can sometimes find things faster and easier with free resources. Many states have statutes and such on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available all the time.
That’s where the book “Legal Research” will be in. It provides for you to follow research methods to aid you answer your legal questions. The book has sections for on-line research also as information regarding law libraries for people who have use of one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed chapters. The chapters include:
One: Understanding the Basics with the Law. Brief descriptions with the the law is, associated with law, state versus federal law, as well as the court network. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, this can be a good be released.
Two: Finding Legal Resources. This chapter explains where legal information is located, primary and secondary sources, internet resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. It includes Lexis and Westlaw, but also other sites that are free of charge. I like the ideas and warnings through the actual book also. Good caution doesn’t every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to someone who had it drilled into them during law school, but probably not known many laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know before you go looking, like could be the case civil or criminal, figuring the area of law you want to research, what resources will a person to with may well be a to find, and being aware of your legal research question. This is important, you wish to know actually really interested in before you go searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Vendors. This chapter explores sources such marketing and advertising resources (including a bit about deciding if reliable), self-help legal books, legal act encyclopedias, form books, practice manuals, continuing legal education publications, law reviews, and many. Many law firm will possess a lot because of kinds of resources, an individual will find even more at legislation library. This chapter provides for a brief a closer look at what these sources are typically.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Are generally generally the bulk of legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to find 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. All of these are vital depending on your own own particular provide. This chapter is an honest introduction for this world of “laws” for people that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. A lot of our law is not found in statutes, however in the decisions of cases that have already been decided. These cases interpreted laws and are usually the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is an example of a famous case that is looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn easy methods to use citations to find cases, find cases on top of the internet, find cases each morning law collection.
Seven: Using Case Legal system. This chapter actually explains what in a situation is, how they are published, and how cases affect later disputes. If you matter relies upon case law, this chapter will a person to.
Eight: Validating Your Research. I pointed out the top earlier, see chapter goes further to help you specialist you have “good guideline.” It teaches you how to Shepardize a Case, a task we lawyers use guarantee that the cases we are relying on are still good. An individual are planning to make a case yourself, develop be sure you are relying on “good .” These are the associated with things lawyers know a number of laypeople typically.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research make use of. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is studies. Once you find the information, ought to put that find in written form for athletes that asked in which find the concept. This chapter provides fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Not quite as thorough even though the semester class most novice law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. Is actually a brief section about going to 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 happens because lawyer learn by case studies and examples that this chapter any research problem, how find the facts, and then how to approach motor oil to research. It’s very short, and so it will a number of circumstances non-lawyer just a little example of methods to with the law and go about finding your answer.
The book chapters stop here onpage 255. The next 100 plus pages is often a glossary, that your person commonly need should they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually uses a simple legal dictionary that won’t replace “Black’s” but is a superb resource. There is a short appendix on topics also index.
Overall, I do think this book could be very valuable for the one who wants or needs to enjoy legal research but doesn’t know where to begin. If you are forced to do-it-yourself, information can lead the mode. It is a very good description of this legal research process for everyone without a law degree.