Not everybody is able to afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal information. In law school we had access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty because you got out and started working towards. Many firms have much more the other, and I suppose large firms may subscribe to both. Despite access to at least of these, I find that I can frequently find things faster and simpler with free resources. Many states have statutes and such on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available all the time.
That’s if the book “Legal Research” accessible. It provides simple follow research methods to help you answer your legal questions. The book has sections for on-line research also as the specifics of law libraries for those 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 of the items the law is, involving law, state versus federal law, along with the court system. Too basic for an attorney, however for the layperson the book was written for, this may be a good intro.
Two: Finding Legal Products. This chapter explains where legal the key located, primary and secondary sources, online resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. Costly Lexis and Westlaw, but also other sites that are free of charge. I like the ideas and warnings through the actual book too. Good caution that not every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to somebody that 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 may be the case civil or criminal, figuring out the area of law desire to research, what resources will a person to with generate profits . to find, and working out your legal research trouble. This is important, you need to know what you’re really seeking before planning searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Information. This chapter explores sources such marketing and advertising 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 so on. Many lawyers will possess a lot of these kinds of resources, and will find even more at legislation library. This chapter provides brief overview of what these sources might be.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. These are the almost all legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to obtain these resources and guidelines them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations along with rules and ordinances. Each of these tend to be crucial depending on your own own particular issue. This chapter is a good introduction for this world of “laws” for those that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Quantity our law is not found in statutes, but in the decisions of cases that have previously been planned. These cases interpreted laws and are usually the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is difficulties are people a famous case of which may be looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn how you can use citations to find cases, find cases through the internet, find cases your law library.
Seven: Using Case Legislated rules. This chapter actually explains what an instance is, that 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, review chapter goes further support you acquiring you have “good law.” It teaches you ways to Shepardize a Case, an activity we lawyers use guarantee that the cases we are relying on are still good. Content articles are searching make a situation yourself, you must be sure you are relying on “good policies.” These are the associated with things lawyers know that many laypeople do not ever.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research make use of. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is preparation. Once you find the information, will need to put genuine find in written form for things that asked you find it. This chapter provides essentials for writing a legal memorandum. Much less thorough even though the semester class most fresh law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. However a brief section about going to the court and the judge process and approximately a couple pages on finding and with a lawyer.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is because lawyer overcome case studies and examples that this chapter the research problem, how to discover the facts, and then how to approach rare to research. It’s very short, and so it will give the non-lawyer a little example of methods to from the law and legal act accomplish finding your solution.
The book chapters stop here onpage 255. The following 100 plus pages is a glossary, that your person commonly need if they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually comes with a simple legal dictionary that won’t replace “Black’s” but is a superb resource. Then there’s a short appendix on topics also index.
Overall, Feel this book could be very valuable for the person who wants or needs to attempt legal research but does not know where to start. If you are forced to do-it-yourself, information can lead the mode. It is a very good description in the legal research process for anyone without a law degree.