Legal Research – How to find & Understand the Law
Not everyone can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal resources. In law school we had access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty because you got out and started could. Many firms have one or the other, and I’m assuming large firms may for you to both. Despite access a minimum of one of these, I find that I can often find things faster and simpler with free resources. Many states have Indian law library Statutes etc on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available often.
That’s when the book “Legal Research” comes in. It provides simple to follow research methods to assist you answer your legal questions. The book has sections for on-line research also as the specifics of law libraries for people who have access to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed chapters. The chapters include:
One: Comprehending the Basics from the Law. Brief descriptions of the items the law is, associated with law, state versus federal law, along with the court network. Too basic for an attorney, however for the layperson the book was written for, it is a good intro.
Two: Finding Legal Resources. This chapter explains where legal information and facts is located, primary and secondary sources, internet resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. It includes Lexis and Westlaw, furthermore other sites that are free of charge. I like the information and warnings through the actual book too. Good caution does not every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to another kid that had it drilled into them during law school, but most likely not known ordinarily laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know for you to go looking, like could be the case civil or criminal, figuring the area of law extra flab to research, what resources will assist you with generate profits . to find, and finding out your legal research interrogation. This is important, you need to know what you’re really really hunting for before you go searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Information. 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, and so on. Many lawyers will have a lot in their kinds of resources, and you will find even more at a law library. This chapter gives a brief a closer look at what these sources might be.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Components the bulk of legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to obtain these resources and strategies for 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 crucial depending on top of your particular trouble. This chapter is an efficient introduction to 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 have previously been made a decision. These cases interpreted laws and have grown to be the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is in the following paragraphs a famous case that is looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn the right way to use citations to find cases, find cases on your internet, find cases your law library.
Seven: Using Case Legislated rules. This chapter actually explains what a case is, where did they are published, and how cases affect later disputes. If you matter relies on case law, this chapter will aid you.
Eight: Validating Your Analysis. I pointed out the top earlier, which chapter goes further support you guaranteed that you have “good law.” It teaches you the way to Shepardize a Case, a procedure we lawyers use to ensure the cases we are relying on are still good. Purchasing are trying to make a suit yourself, develop be sure you are relying on “good laws.” These are the forms of things lawyers know that many laypeople do not ever.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research make use of. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is research. Once you find the information, you put that find in written form for homeowners who asked you to find getting this done. This chapter provides the fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Not only thorough currently being the semester class most 1st year law students take, but good for your non-lawyer. However a brief section about going to court and the legal court process and about a couple pages on finding and working with a legal practitioner.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is mainly because lawyer overcome case studies and examples that this chapter any research problem, how learn the facts, and then how to approach the question to knowledge. It’s very short, the software will a number of circumstances non-lawyer just a little example of methods to the the law and try finding your solution.
The book chapters stop here onpage 255. The next 100 plus pages can be a glossary, that your person does not need should they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually is sufffering from a simple legal dictionary that wont replace “Black’s” but is a good resource. Then there’s a short appendix on topics along with an index.
Overall, Folks this book could be very valuable for the individual who wants or needs to attempt legal research but does not know where do you start. If you need to do-it-yourself, information can lead the mode. It is a very good description for this legal research process for anyone without legislation degree.
