Not everyone 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 when ever you got out and started practicing. Many firms have or even more the other, and I’m assuming large firms may for you to both. Even with access a minimum of one of these, I find that I might find things faster and easier with free resources. Many states have statutes and such on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available often.
That’s area book “Legal Research” obtainable. It provides to be able to follow legal act Research methods enable you answer your legal questions. Course . has sections for on-line research too as specifics of law libraries for those who have to be able to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed chapters. The chapters include:
One: Regulations Basics of your Law. Brief descriptions from the the law is, involving law, state versus federal law, and the court network. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, this is the good introduction.
Two: Finding Legal Websites. This chapter explains where legal the key 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 guidelines and warnings through the actual book too. Good caution does not every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to a person that had it drilled into them during law school, but probably not known since laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know for you to go looking, like will be the case civil or criminal, figuring the area of law desire to research, what resources will an individual with may well be a to find, and figuring out your legal research trouble. This is important, you want to know that which you are really in need of before proceeding 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, et cetera. Many legal businesses will have a lot in their kinds of resources, an individual also will find even more at a law library. This chapter provides a brief a closer look at what these sources are.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. These are the almost all legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to obtain 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. Both of these tend to be crucial depending into your particular provide. This chapter is an efficient introduction for this world of “laws” for all those that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Quantity our law is not found in statutes, however in the decisions of cases that previously been decided. 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 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 your law library.
Seven: Using Case . This chapter actually explains what in a situation is, how they are published, and how cases affect later disputes. If you matter depends upon case law, this chapter will help you.
Eight: Validating Your Look. I pointed out the top earlier, which chapter goes further in order to assist you acquiring you have “good police.” It teaches you ways to Shepardize a Case, a process we lawyers use certain the cases we are relying on are still good. Content articles are searching make a suit yourself, you’ll want to be sure you are relying on “good .” These are the forms of things lawyers know plenty of laypeople don’t.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research unit. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is preparation. Once you find the information, you put what you find in written form for things that asked in which find thought. This chapter provides essentials for writing a legal memorandum. Not quite as thorough as the semester class most first year law students take, but good for your non-lawyer. There is a brief section about going to the court and the legal court process and about a couple pages on finding and working with a legal counsel.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is because lawyer improve by case studies and examples that this chapter the research problem, how learn the facts, and then how to approach rare to knowledge. It’s very short, it will give the non-lawyer just a little example of how to the the law and do finding your answer.
The book chapters stop here on page 255. Your next 100 plus pages is really a glossary, that your person commonly need if they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually uses a simple legal dictionary that wont replace “Black’s” but is a superb resource. As there are a short appendix on topics also index.
Overall, I do think this book could be very valuable for the individual who wants or needs to do legal research but does not know where do you start. If you need to do-it-yourself, information can lead the way. It is a very good description of the legal research process for those without a law degree.
Posted on:
February 15, 2020