Not everyone can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal resources. In law school we access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty because you got out and started studying. Many firms have one or the other, and I suppose large firms may to be able to both. Despite access to at least of these, I find that I can often find things faster and easier with free resources. Many states have statutes and such on-line these days. More and more are becoming available all the time.
That’s if the book “Legal Research” will be in. It provides simple follow research methods enable you answer your legal questions. System has sections for on-line research too as information regarding Indian law library libraries for people who have regarding one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Comprehending the Basics with the Law. Brief descriptions of the things the law is, regarding 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, it is a good intro.
Two: Finding Legal Websites. This chapter explains where legal information is located, primary and secondary sources, online resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. Costly Lexis and Westlaw, additionally 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 someone who had it drilled into them during law school, but most likely not known numerous laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know an individual go looking, like will be the case civil or criminal, figuring the area of law desire to research, what resources will assist you with generate profits . to find, and figuring out your legal research interrogation. This is important, you want to know what you’re really really in need of before you travel searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Experts. This chapter explores sources such exactly how 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 have a lot because of kinds of resources, may will find even more at a law library. This chapter provides for a brief brief review what these sources might be.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Are generally generally the almost all 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 other rules and ordinances. Just about all these tend to be crucial depending into your particular issue. This chapter is a positive introduction for this world of “laws” for the people that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Quantity our law is not found in statutes, however in the decisions of cases that already have been planned. These cases interpreted laws and currently employ the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is an example of a famous case of which may be looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn tips on how to use citations to find cases, find cases on your internet, find cases inside of law catalogue.
Seven: Using Case Legal system. This chapter actually explains what an incident is, the way that they are published, and how cases affect later disagreements. If you matter relies upon case law, this chapter will help you.
Eight: Validating Your Search for. I pointed out the tip earlier, so, as chapter goes further that can you specialist you have “good legal.” It teaches you the way to Shepardize a Case, an activity we lawyers use to make sure the cases we are relying on are still good. Purchasing are searching make a case yourself, you’ll want to be sure you are relying on “good laws.” These are the regarding things lawyers know that many 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 preparation. Once you find the information, ought to put genuine find in written form for things that asked you find getting this done. This chapter provides fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Quite a bit less thorough currently being the semester class most novice law students take, but good for the non-lawyer. Can be a brief section about going to court and a legal court process resulting in a couple pages on finding and with a legal practitioner.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is really because lawyer overcome case studies and examples that this chapter supplies a research problem, how learn the facts, and then how to approach the question to research. It’s very short, the software will a number of circumstances non-lawyer just a little example of how to look at the law and do finding the way to go.
The book chapters stop here on-page 255. The other 100 plus pages is a glossary, which a person would not need should they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually possess a simple legal dictionary that will not replace “Black’s” but is a good resource. There is a short appendix on topics also index.
Overall, I think this book could be very valuable for the individual that wants or needs you need to do legal research but doesn’t know how to start. If you need to do-it-yourself, information can lead the opportunity. It is a very good description of this legal research process for those without a law degree.