Not everybody is able to afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal services. In law school we’d access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty because you got out and started training. Many firms have much more the other, and Just maybe large firms may for you to both. Despite access to at least of these, I recognize that I might find things faster and simpler with free resources. Many states have statutes and such on-line these days. More and more are becoming available quite frequently.
That’s where the book “Legal Research” does its part. It provides simple follow research methods enable you answer your legal questions. Course . has sections for on-line research too as info about law libraries for people who have in order to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Understanding the Basics from the Law. Brief descriptions of what the law is, sources of law, state versus federal law, and the court network. Too basic for an attorney, however for the layperson the book was written for, this is the good introduction.
Two: Finding Legal Resources. This chapter explains where legal information and facts is located, primary and secondary sources, websites for legal topics, and legal research websites. Consists of Lexis and Westlaw, furthermore other sites that are free. I like the ideas and warnings through the actual book too. 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 an individual go looking, like may be the case civil or criminal, figuring the area of law would like to to research, what resources will an individual with the simple fact is to find, and being aware of your legal research subject. This is important, you wish to know that which you are really hunting for before you decide to searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Sources. This chapter explores sources such understanding of 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 firms will possess a lot of your kinds of resources, and you will find even more at legislation library. This chapter provides brief overview of what these sources might be.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Components the almost all legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how identify 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 along with rules and ordinances. Each of these are vital depending on top of your particular trouble. This chapter is a superior introduction for this world of “laws” for anyone that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Some of our law is not found in statutes, however in the decisions of cases that formerly been made a decision. These cases interpreted laws and are now the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is an example of a famous case is actually 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 each morning law study.
Seven: Using Case . This chapter actually explains what in instances is, that they are published, and how cases affect later disagreements. If you matter utilizes case law, this chapter will assist.
Eight: Validating Your Seek. I pointed out the end earlier, which chapter goes further that can you acquiring you have “good legal.” It teaches you tips on how to Shepardize a Case, an activity we lawyers use to create the cases we are relying on are still good. Purchasing are trying to make a case yourself, you must be sure you are relying on “good policies.” These are the forms of things lawyers know which laypeople never.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research using. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is preparation. Once you find the information, you must put what you find in written form for those that asked you to find the concept. This chapter provides essentials for writing a legal memorandum. Not only thorough while the semester class most first year law students take, but good for the non-lawyer. However a brief section about going to the court and the court process resulting in a couple pages on finding and dealing with a personal injury lawyer.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it happens because lawyer overcome case studies and examples that this chapter any research problem, how find the facts, and then how to approach rare to research. It’s very short, so it will a number of circumstances non-lawyer a little example of methods to the the law and try finding the way to go.
The book chapters stop here on page 255. The next 100 plus pages is really a glossary, which a person definitely would not need should they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually is sufffering from a simple legal dictionary which don’t replace “Black’s” but is a Company Vakil law library superb resource. Then there’s a short appendix on topics and an index.
Overall, Amazingly exciting . this book could be very valuable for the individual that wants or needs to attempt legal research but doesn’t know where to start. If you are forced to do-it-yourself, information can lead the chance. It is a very good description in the legal research process for everyone without legislation degree.