Not everyone can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal services. In law school we were treated to access to both, Company Vakil law library because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty for when you got out and started practicing. Many firms have one or the other, and I’m assuming large firms may for you to both. Despite access to one of these, I find that I often find things faster and much 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 exactly where book “Legal Research” obtainable. It provides for you to follow research methods to assist you answer your legal questions. Course . has sections for on-line research also as info on 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: Learning the Basics among the Law. Brief descriptions of what the law is, regarding law, state versus federal law, and also the court routine. 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 facts are located, primary and secondary sources, internet resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. It includes Lexis and Westlaw, furthermore other sites that have the freedom. I like the tips and warnings through the actual book also. Good caution that every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to someone who had it drilled into them during law school, but most likely not known ordinarily laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. In order to know in order to go looking, like is the case civil or criminal, figuring out the area of law would like to to research, what resources will help you with may well be a to find, and figuring out your legal research subject. This is important, you wish to know what you’re really hunting for before you decide to searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Experts. This chapter explores sources such as online resources (including a bit about deciding if reliable), self-help legal books, legal encyclopedias, form books, practice manuals, continuing legal education publications, law reviews, and many. Many lawyers will have a lot because of kinds of resources, and will find even more at a law library. This chapter provides for a brief brief review what these sources normally.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Tend to be some the bulk of 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. All of these are vital depending on your particular factor. This chapter is an efficient introduction for this world of “laws” for people that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Some of our law is not found in statutes, but in the decisions of cases that have already been decided. These cases interpreted laws and are now the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is one of a famous case which 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 your law catalogue.
Seven: Using Case Statute. This chapter actually explains what a case is, how they are published, and how cases affect later differences. If you matter utilizes case law, this chapter will to be able to.
Eight: Validating Your Analysis. I pointed out the tip earlier, and this chapter goes further in order to assist you specialist you have “good law.” It teaches you ways to Shepardize a Case, an operation we lawyers use certain the cases we are relying on are still good. If you are trying to make in instances yourself, you’ll want to be sure you are relying on “good law.” These are the associated with things lawyers know plenty of laypeople don’t.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research to be able to. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is preparation. Once you find the information, have to put people find in written form for those that asked you to find getting this done. This chapter provides fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Quite a bit less thorough currently being the semester class most first year law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. Is actually a brief section about going to the court and a legal court process contributing to a couple pages on finding and working with an attorney at law.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is mainly because lawyer overcome case studies and examples that this chapter provides a research problem, how to find the facts, and then how to approach motor oil to research. It’s very short, so it will provide the non-lawyer just a little example of methods to from the law and do finding your solution.
The book chapters stop here on-page 255. Your next 100 plus pages is really a glossary, which a person would not need if they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually is sufffering from a simple legal dictionary that will not replace “Black’s” but is an efficient resource. Plus there is a short appendix on topics along with an index.
Overall, I do think this book could be very valuable for the one that wants or needs you need to do legal research but does not know where to begin. If you have to do-it-yourself, this guide can lead the manner for you. It is a very good description belonging to the legal research process for anyone without a law degree.