Not everybody can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal information. In law school there were access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty whenever you got out and started training. Many firms have much more the other, and I suppose large firms may to be able to both. Even with access to 1 of these, I realize that I can frequently find things faster and simpler with free resources. Many states have statutes etc on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available quite frequently.
That’s exactly where book “Legal Research” will be in. It provides to be able to follow research methods to assist you answer your legal questions. In an effort to has sections for on-line research also as 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: Learning the Basics of the Law. Brief descriptions of the items the law is, sources of law, state versus federal law, and also the court structure. Too basic for an attorney, however for the layperson the book was written for, this can be a good intro.
Two: Finding Legal Resources. This chapter explains where legal facts are located, primary and secondary sources, websites for legal topics, and legal research websites. It includes Lexis and Westlaw, but also other sites that are free. I like the guidelines and warnings through the actual book also. Good Indian law library caution that not every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to someone who had it drilled into them during law school, but most likely not known since laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know before you go looking, like may be the case civil or criminal, figuring the actual area of law you would like to research, what resources will allow you with the simple fact is to find, and deciding on your legal research interrogation. This is important, you wish to know what you are really hunting for before proceeding searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Experts. This chapter explores sources such understanding of 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 law firm will possess a lot top kinds of resources, an individual also will find even more at legislation library. This chapter provides brief overview of what these sources are typically.
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 uncover these resources and protect yourself with them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations and other rules and ordinances. All the these are essential depending on top of your particular issue. This chapter is a superior introduction for this world of “laws” for people that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Much of our law is not found in statutes, but in the decisions of cases that previously been planned. These cases interpreted laws and are now the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is in the following paragraphs 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 in the law archive.
Seven: Using Case . This chapter actually explains what in instances is, how they are published, and how cases affect later differences. If you matter relies upon case law, this chapter will help you.
Eight: Validating Your Look. I pointed out the top earlier, which chapter goes further that can you acquiring you have “good police.” It teaches you the best way to Shepardize a Case, an operation we lawyers use certain the cases we are relying on are still good. Purchasing are searching make a case yourself, develop be sure you are relying on “good law.” These are the types of things lawyers know a number of laypeople can’t.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research using. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is research. Once you find the information, you must put what you find in written form for those that asked in which find the product. This chapter provides essentials for writing a legal memorandum. Much less thorough when your semester class most 1st year law students take, but good for your non-lawyer. There is a brief section about going to court and a legal court process and approximately a couple pages on finding and with a legal counsel.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it happens because lawyer learn by case studies and examples that this chapter the research problem, how find the facts, and then how to approach the question to studying. It’s very short, the software will provide the non-lawyer a little example of how to the the law and accomplish finding your answer.
The book chapters stop here on-page 255. The other 100 plus pages is a glossary, that your person would not need whether they have had a legal dictionary. Nolo actually comes with a simple legal dictionary that wont replace “Black’s” but is a good resource. Then there is a short appendix on topics also index.
Overall, Amazingly exciting . this book could be very valuable for the one that wants or needs you need to do legal research but does not know where do you start. If you need to do-it-yourself, information can lead the mode. It is a very good description for this legal research process for anyone without legislation degree.