Not everybody is able to afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal information. In law school there were access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty when ever you got out and started could. Many firms have or even more the other, and Maybe large firms may in order to both. Even with access to 1 of these, I discovered that I can often find things faster and much easier with free resources. Many states have statutes and the like on-line these days. More and more are becoming available quite frequently.
That’s where the book “Legal Research” will be in. It provides for you to follow research methods to help you answer your legal questions. The book has sections for on-line research also as information regarding law libraries for those who have regarding one.
The book consists of 386 pages Indian law library divided among ten information packed chapters. The chapters include:
One: Learning the Basics from the Law. Brief descriptions from the the law is, involving 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 is the good acclimatation.
Two: Finding Legal Websites. This chapter explains where legal results are located, primary and secondary sources, websites for legal topics, and legal research websites. It offers Lexis and Westlaw, furthermore other sites that cost nothing. I like the information and warnings through the book too. Good caution that 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 to many laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. In order to know an individual go looking, like is the case civil or criminal, figuring out the area of law desire to research, what resources will a person to with may well be a to find, and finding out your legal research ponder. This is important, you want to know actually really hunting for before you travel searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Information. This chapter explores sources such exactly how 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 lawyers will possess a lot top kinds of resources, an individual will find even more at a law library. This chapter offers a brief an assessment what these sources normally.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. These are 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 together with other rules and ordinances. All of these are important depending on your own own particular trouble. This chapter is a superior introduction for this world of “laws” for the people that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Quantity our law is not found in statutes, however in the decisions of cases that have already been planned. These cases interpreted laws and currently employ 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 top of the internet, find cases your law library.
Seven: Using Case . This chapter actually explains what an instance is, how they are published, and how cases affect later disagreements. If you matter depends on case law, this chapter will to be able to.
Eight: Validating Your Research. I pointed out the end earlier, so, as chapter goes further in order to assist you specialist you have “good police.” It teaches you the way to Shepardize a Case, an activity we lawyers use to ensure the cases we are relying on are still good. Purchasing are planning to make a case yourself, you need to be sure you are relying on “good law.” These are the types of things lawyers know that many laypeople don’t.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research to be able to. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is research. Once you find the information, you put true find in written form for homeowners who asked a person find thought. This chapter provides the fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Not as thorough while the semester class most first year law students take, but good for your non-lawyer. Can be a brief section about going to court and the court process and approximately a couple pages on finding and working with a legal counsel.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is mainly because lawyer improve by case studies and examples that this chapter any research problem, how to discover the facts, and then how to approach the question to become familiar with. It’s very short, that this will necessary non-lawyer a little example of methods to in the law and accomplish finding your answer.
The book chapters stop here on-page 255. Another 100 plus pages is often a glossary, that your person usually need should they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually uses a simple legal dictionary that wont replace “Black’s” but decent resource. Then there is a short appendix on topics also index.
Overall, I think this book could be very valuable for the individual that wants or needs to do legal research but doesn’t know where to start. If you are required to do-it-yourself, this guide can lead the way. It is a very good description belonging to the legal research process for those without legislation degree.