Not everybody can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal services. In law school we’d access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty because you got out and started working towards. Many firms have or even more the other, and I suppose large firms may to be able to both. Despite access a minimum of one of these, I discovered that I can sometimes find things faster and simpler with free resources. Many states have statutes and the like on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available on a daily basis.
That’s when the book “Legal Research” does its part. It provides simple follow research methods that may you answer your legal questions. Was created to promote has sections for on-line research also as specifics of law libraries for people that have in order to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed chapters. The chapters include:
One: Learning the Basics with the Law. Brief descriptions of what 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 can be a good introduction.
Two: Finding Legal Learning websites. This India law library chapter explains where legal the key located, primary and secondary sources, websites for legal topics, and legal research websites. Costly Lexis and Westlaw, however other sites that cost nothing. I like the information and warnings through the book also. Good caution doesn’t every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to one 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 may be the case civil or criminal, figuring the actual area of law you want to research, what resources will help you with may well be a to find, and deciding on your legal research subject. This is important, you need to know what you’re really really seeking before you decide to searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Sources. 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, as well as the. Many law firm will possess a lot of your kinds of resources, and will find even more at legislation library. This chapter offers a brief an assessment what these sources are typically.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Of the the majority of legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to find these resources and how to use them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations and other rules and ordinances. All of these are crucial depending on top of your particular hassle. This chapter is a superior introduction for 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 have already been created the decision. 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 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 around the internet, find cases in the law library.
Seven: Using Case Legislated rules. This chapter actually explains what a case is, how they are published, and how cases affect later disagreements. If you matter utilizes case law, this chapter will to be able to.
Eight: Validating Your Look. I pointed out the end earlier, see chapter goes further aid you retain all of your you have “good guideline.” It teaches you the best way to Shepardize a Case, a procedure we lawyers use to ensure the cases we are relying on are still good. Purchasing are wanting make in a situation yourself, you need to be sure you are relying on “good policies.” These are the kinds of things lawyers know a number of laypeople do not ever.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research unit. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is preparation. Once you find the information, you put genuine find in written form for those asked you to find thought. This chapter provides the fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Much less thorough currently being the semester class most first year law students take, but good for the non-lawyer. Is actually a brief section about going to the court and legal court process leading to a couple pages on finding and with a personal injury lawyer.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is mainly because lawyer learn by case studies and examples that this chapter supplies a research problem, how learn the facts, and then how to approach motor oil to become familiar with. It’s very short, so it will give the non-lawyer a little example of methods to look at the law and go about finding your solution.
The book chapters stop here on-page 255. The following 100 plus pages is really a glossary, that your person would not need if they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually is sufffering from a simple legal dictionary that wont replace “Black’s” but is a superb resource. Then there’s a short appendix on topics along with an index.
Overall, I do think this book could be very valuable for the individual that wants or needs you need to do legal research but does not know where do you start. If you are forced to do-it-yourself, this guide can lead the opportunity. It is a very good description belonging to the legal research process for any without legislation degree.