Not everybody is able to 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 when ever you got out and started studying. Many firms have much more the other, and I’m assuming large firms may for you to both. Even with access to one of these, I see I can frequently find things faster and much easier with free resources. Many states have Company Vakil legal library statutes and the like on-line these days. More and more are becoming available often.
That’s if the book “Legal Research” does its part. It provides simple follow research methods that may you answer your legal questions. The book has sections for on-line research as well as info on law libraries for people that have access to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Comprehending the Basics of your Law. Brief descriptions of what the law is, associated with law, state versus federal law, along with the court unit. Too basic for an attorney, however for the layperson the book was written for, this may be a good be released.
Two: Finding Legal Websites. This chapter explains where legal the key located, primary and secondary sources, online resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. It offers Lexis and Westlaw, furthermore other sites that cost nothing. I like the tips and warnings through the book also. Good caution that every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to one who had it drilled into them during law school, but probably not known since laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know before you go looking, like is the case civil or criminal, figuring the actual area of law desire to research, what resources will help you with the simple fact is to find, and figuring out your legal research interrogation. This is important, you need to know what you are really seeking before you decide to searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Vendors. 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 law firms will possess a lot in their kinds of resources, an individual will find even more at legislation library. This chapter provides brief report on what these sources are.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Are generally generally the bulk of legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to find these resources and protect yourself with them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations and also rules and ordinances. All the these are essential depending into your particular hassle. This chapter is a good introduction for this world of “laws” for anyone that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Much of our law is not found in statutes, but in the decisions of cases that formerly been decided. These cases interpreted laws and have been the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is one of a famous case which usually is looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn the right way to use citations to find cases, find cases around the internet, find cases inside of law archive.
Seven: Using Case . This chapter actually explains what in instances is, the way that they are published, and how cases affect later differences. If you matter depends on case law, this chapter will a person to.
Eight: Validating Your Search for. I pointed out the tip earlier, which chapter goes further aid you guaranteed that you have “good guideline.” It teaches you tips on how to Shepardize a Case, an operation we lawyers use to create the cases we are relying on are still good. An individual are wanting make in a situation yourself, you must be sure you are relying on “good policies.” These are the forms of things lawyers know that many laypeople typically.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research to be able to. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is research. Once you find the information, have to put that find in written form for things that asked you to find the product. This chapter provides the fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Not only thorough while the semester class most fresh law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. Can be a brief section about going to the court and a legal court process contributing to a couple pages on finding and working with a personal injury lawyer.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is they lawyer learn by case studies and examples that this chapter provides a research problem, how to find the facts, and then how to approach yet to research. It’s very short, it will give the non-lawyer a little example of how to look at the law and accomplish finding your solution.
The book chapters stop here on page 255. The following 100 plus pages can be a glossary, that your person definitely would not need they were a legal dictionary. Nolo actually is sufffering from a simple legal dictionary which will not replace “Black’s” but decent resource. Then there is a short appendix on topics also 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 to start. If you have to do-it-yourself, information can lead the opportunity. It is a very good description belonging to the legal research process for any without a law degree.