Not everybody can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal information. In law school we access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty for when you got out and started practicing. Many firms have one or the other, and Just maybe large firms may subscribe to both. Even with access to at least of these, I recognize that I might find things faster and easier with free resources. Many states have statutes etc on-line these days. More and more are becoming available on a daily basis.
That’s if the book “Legal Research” obtainable. 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 info about law libraries for those that have regarding one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed chapters. The chapters include:
One: Understanding the Basics of the Law. Brief descriptions of the items the law is, regarding law, state versus federal law, along with the court unit. Too basic for an attorney, however for the layperson the book was written for, this may be a good be released.
Two: Finding Legal Learning websites. This chapter explains where legal results are located, primary and secondary sources, internet resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. Consists of Lexis and Westlaw, but also other sites that are free of charge. I like the information and warnings through the actual book too. Good caution does not every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to one who had it drilled into them during law school, but most likely not known to many laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know for you to go looking, like may be the case civil or criminal, figuring the actual area of law you want to research, what resources will allow you with what you need to find, and being aware of your legal research ponder. This is important, you need to know what you are really looking for before you travel searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Sources. 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, as well as the. Many attorneys will possess a lot of your kinds of resources, and will find even more at a law library. This chapter provides a brief brief review what these sources have always been.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. These are 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 and also rules and ordinances. All the these are vital depending on your particular provide. This chapter is a positive introduction to this world of “laws” for all those that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. A wide variety of our law is not found in statutes, but in the decisions of cases that already have been figured. These cases interpreted laws and currently employ the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is individuals a famous case which usually is looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn how to use citations to find cases, find cases through the internet, find cases in the law collection.
Seven: Using Case Legislated rules. This chapter actually explains what an Company Vakil legal library incident is, the way that they are published, and how cases affect later disagreements. If you matter relies upon case law, this chapter will to be able to.
Eight: Validating Your Seek. I pointed out the top earlier, review chapter goes further in order to assist you retain all of your you have “good law.” It teaches you tips on how to Shepardize a Case, a process we lawyers use to create the cases we are relying on are still good. If you are planning to make in a situation yourself, you’ll want to be sure you are relying on “good law.” These are the kinds of things lawyers know lots of laypeople typically.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research using. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is research. Once you find the information, will need to put what you find in written form for homeowners who asked you find it. This chapter provides the fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Not quite as thorough when your semester class most fresh law students take, but good for your non-lawyer. Is actually a brief section about going to the court and the judge process resulting in a couple pages on finding and dealing with a legal counsel.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is mainly because lawyer overcome case studies and examples that this chapter the research problem, how get the facts, and then how to approach yet to become familiar with. It’s very short, the software will give the non-lawyer just a little example of methods to look at the law and accomplish finding the way to go.
The book chapters stop here on page 255. Your next 100 plus pages can be a glossary, that your person definitely would not need when they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually comes with a simple legal dictionary that wont replace “Black’s” but decent resource. As there are a short appendix on topics plus an index.
Overall, Feel this book could be very valuable for the individual who wants or needs you need to do legal research but does not know the place to begin. If you must do-it-yourself, information can lead the way. It is a very good description of the legal research process for all those without legislation degree.