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 when ever you got out and started could. Many firms have or even more the other, and Maybe large firms may to be able to both. Even with access to 1 of these, I realize that I can 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 often.
That’s if the book “Legal Research” will be in. It provides easy to follow research methods to aid you answer your legal questions. The book has sections for on-line research also as information regarding law libraries for people that have in order to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Regulations Basics from the Law. Brief descriptions with the 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, it is a good be released.
Two: Finding Legal Websites. This chapter explains where legal information and facts is located, primary and secondary sources, internet resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. It offers Lexis and Westlaw, additionally other sites that are free. I like the ideas and common law library warnings through out the book too. Good 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 in order to go looking, like could be the case civil or criminal, figuring out the area of law desire to research, what resources will help you with try not to to find, and deciding on your legal research trouble. This is important, you want to know what you’re really hunting for before you travel searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Resources for the article. 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 attorneys will possess a lot in their kinds of resources, an individual will find even more at legislation library. This chapter gives a brief report on what these sources have always been.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Of the the almost all legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how uncover these resources and strategies for 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 top of your particular provide. This chapter is an efficient introduction to this world of “laws” for the people that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Quantity our law is not found in statutes, but in the decisions of cases that previously been decided. These cases interpreted laws and are usually the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is an example 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 top of the internet, find cases within the law collection.
Seven: Using Case Legal system. This chapter actually explains what a case is, that are published, and how cases affect later differences. If you matter depends on case law, this chapter will assist.
Eight: Validating Your Research. I pointed out the tip earlier, see chapter goes further to help you specialist you have “good the legal system.” 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 wanting make a suit yourself, you need to be sure you are relying on “good legislations.” These are the types of things lawyers know plenty of laypeople do not ever.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research to use. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is preparation. Once you find the information, you must put people find in written form for homeowners who asked in order to find the concept. This chapter provides essentials for writing a legal memorandum. Quite a bit less thorough when your semester class most 1st year law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. Can be a brief section about going to court and the legal court process contributing to a couple pages on finding and dealing with a personal injury lawyer.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it happens because lawyer learn by case studies and examples that this chapter any research problem, how get the facts, and then how to approach motor oil to research. It’s very short, it will give the non-lawyer just a little example of how to with the law and accomplish finding your solution.
The book chapters stop here onpage 255. The next 100 plus pages is really a glossary, which a person would not need should they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually uses a simple legal dictionary which don’t replace “Black’s” but is the best resource. Then there’s a short appendix on topics plus an index.
Overall, Feel this book could be very valuable for the one that wants or needs to do legal research but doesn’t know where do you start. If you have to do-it-yourself, information can lead the opportunity. It is a very good description of this legal research process for any without legislation degree.