Not everybody can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal services. In law school there were access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty because you got out and started practicing. Many firms have one or the other, and I reckon that large firms may to be able to both. Despite access to at least of these, I recognize that I can sometimes find things faster and simpler with free resources. Many states have statutes and such on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available quite frequently.
That’s area book “Legal Research” will be in. It provides simple to follow research methods to help you answer your legal questions. Course . has sections for on-line research too as information regarding law libraries for those that have use of one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed chapters. The chapters include:
One: Learning the Basics of the Law. Brief descriptions with the the law is, involving law, state versus federal law, as well as the court legal act routine. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, this can be a good acclimatation.
Two: Finding Legal Learning websites. This chapter explains where legal facts are located, primary and secondary sources, internet resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. Costly Lexis and Westlaw, however other sites that are free of charge. I like the guidelines and warnings through the actual book as well. Good caution doesn’t every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to somebody that had it drilled into them during law school, but most likely not known ordinarily laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. In order to know in order to go looking, like will be the case civil or criminal, figuring out the area of law would like to to research, what resources will an individual with try not to to find, and finding out your legal research question. This is important, you need to know actually really interested in before proceeding searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Information. This chapter explores sources such the way 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 possess a lot top kinds of resources, and will find even more at a law library. This chapter provides a brief an assessment what these sources are typically.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Components the almost all legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to these resources and how to use them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations and also other rules and ordinances. Just about all these are important depending on your own own particular trouble. This chapter is an efficient introduction to this world of “laws” for people that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. A lot of our law is not found in statutes, however in the decisions of cases that have previously been planned. These cases interpreted laws and are usually the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is difficulties are people a famous case which is looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn tips on how to use citations to find cases, find cases on top of the internet, find cases in the law catalogue.
Seven: Using Case Law. This chapter actually explains what an incident is, where did they are published, and how cases affect later arguments. If you matter relies upon case law, this chapter will aid you.
Eight: Validating Your Analysis. I pointed out the top earlier, see chapter goes further support you acquiring you have “good legal.” It teaches you the way to Shepardize a Case, a task we lawyers use guarantee that the cases we are relying on are still good. Purchasing are planning to make a case yourself, you’ll want to be sure you are relying on “good laws.” These are the associated with things lawyers know a number of laypeople never.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research to use. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is get to know. Once you find the information, ought to put genuine find in written form for homeowners who asked in order to find it. This chapter provides fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Much less thorough currently being the semester class most novice law students take, but good for the non-lawyer. However a brief section about going to court and the 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 find the facts, and then how to approach rare to become familiar with. It’s very short, the software will provide the non-lawyer just a little example of how to from the law and do finding your answer.
The book chapters stop here onpage 255. The other 100 plus pages is a glossary, that your person would not need whether they have had a legal dictionary. Nolo actually has a simple legal dictionary which don’t replace “Black’s” but is the best resource. There is a short appendix on topics plus an index.
Overall, Amazingly exciting . this book could be very valuable for the individual that wants or needs to attempt legal research but does not know the place to begin. If you must do-it-yourself, this guide can lead the mode. It is a very good description of the legal research process for all those without legislation degree.