Not everyone can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal information. In law school we had access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty because you got out and started practicing. Many firms have much more the other, and I suppose large firms may in order to both. Despite access a minimum of one of these, I realize that I can frequently find things faster and much easier with free resources. Many states have statutes and the like on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available quite frequently.
That’s exactly where book “Legal Research” does its part. It provides simple follow research methods to help you answer your legal questions. The book has sections for on-line research as well as the specifics of law libraries for those who have access to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Knowing Basics of your Law. Brief descriptions from the the law is, associated with law, state versus federal law, along with the court network. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, this can be a good introduction.
Two: Finding Legal Resources. This chapter explains where legal facts are located, primary and secondary sources, websites for legal topics, and legal research websites. Costly Lexis and Westlaw, furthermore other sites that cost nothing. I like the guidelines and warnings through out the book as well. Good caution that every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to one who had it drilled into them during law school, but most likely not known since laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. In order to know an individual go looking, like will be the case civil or criminal, figuring out the area of law you want to research, what resources will allow you with try not to to find, and working out your legal research ponder. This is important, you need to know what you are really interested in before you travel searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Resources for the article. 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, et cetera. Many legal businesses will have a lot top kinds of resources, and you will find even more at a law library. This chapter provides a brief report on what these sources have always been.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Tend to be some the bulk of legislatively or administratively created India law library. This chapter explains how to these resources and increase your website’s traffic them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations and also other rules and ordinances. Both of these tend to be crucial depending into your particular trouble. This chapter is a positive introduction for this world of “laws” for 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 made a decision. 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 is actually 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 collection.
Seven: Using Case Legislated rules. This chapter actually explains what an instance is, where did they are published, and how cases affect later disputes. If you matter relies on case law, this chapter will to be able to.
Eight: Validating Your Look. I pointed out the top earlier, which chapter goes further that can you make sure you have “good legal.” It teaches you the way to Shepardize a Case, a process we lawyers use certain the cases we are relying on are still good. Prone to are wanting make in instances yourself, you’ll want to be sure you are relying on “good law.” These are the regarding things lawyers know which laypeople typically.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research to use. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is preparation. Once you find the information, you must put true find in written form for those that asked in which find it. This chapter provides the basics for writing a legal memorandum. Not as thorough while the semester class most 1st year law students take, but good for the non-lawyer. Is actually a brief section about going to the court and the judge process leading to a couple pages on finding and working with a legal practitioner.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it happens because lawyer overcome case studies and examples that this chapter provides a research problem, how get the facts, and then how to approach realistic to studying. It’s very short, that this will supply the non-lawyer just a little example of methods to from the law and begin finding the way to go.
The book chapters stop here onpage 255. Your next 100 plus pages can be a glossary, which a person commonly need when they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually uses a simple legal dictionary which don’t replace “Black’s” but is a good resource. As there are a short appendix on topics also index.
Overall, Folks this book could be very valuable for the one who wants or needs to attempt legal research but doesn’t know where do you start. If you must do-it-yourself, this guide can lead the manner for you. It is a very good description of this legal research process for those without legislation degree.