Not everybody is able to afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal web sites. In law school we’d access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty when you got out and started working towards. Many firms have one or the other, and I’m assuming large firms may to be able to both. Despite access a minimum of one of these, I see I can sometimes find things faster and simpler with free resources. Many states have statutes and the like on-line these days. More and more are becoming available normally.
That’s if the book “Legal Research” does its part. It provides simple to follow research methods to help you answer your legal questions. The book has sections for on-line research too as specifics of law libraries for people who have in order to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed chapters. The chapters include:
One: Comprehending the Basics among the Law. Brief descriptions of the things the law is, associated with law, state versus India law library federal law, and also the court unit. Too basic for an attorney, however for the layperson the book was written for, it is a good introduction.
Two: Finding Legal Learning 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, however other sites that are free of charge. I like the guidelines and warnings through the book also. Good caution that not every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to someone who had it drilled into them during law school, but most likely not known many laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know to be able to go looking, like will be the case civil or criminal, figuring the area of law desire to research, what resources will a person to with the simple fact is to find, and finding out your legal research trouble. This is important, you want to know what you’re really really looking for before planning searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Vendors. This chapter explores sources such as online resources (including a bit about deciding if reliable), self-help legal books, legal encyclopedias, form books, practice manuals, continuing legal education publications, law reviews, as well as the. Many lawyers will have a lot top kinds of resources, and will find even more at legislation library. This chapter provides for a brief a closer look at what these sources are typically.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. These are the majority of legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to find these resources and guidelines them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations along with rules and ordinances. All of these are crucial depending against your particular issue. This chapter is a superior introduction for this world of “laws” for people that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Quantity our law is not found in statutes, however in the decisions of cases that formerly been planned. These cases interpreted laws and are usually the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is an example of a famous case which usually is looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn how to use citations to find cases, find cases through the internet, find cases your law archive.
Seven: Using Case . This chapter actually explains what an instance is, where did they are published, and how cases affect later quarrels. If you matter depends upon case law, this chapter will help you.
Eight: Validating Your Analysis. I pointed out the top earlier, see chapter goes further support you acquiring you have “good guideline.” It teaches you how to Shepardize a Case, an activity we lawyers use to create the cases we are relying on are still good. If you are searching make a situation yourself, you must be sure you are relying on “good legislations.” These are the regarding things lawyers know that many laypeople never.
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, ought to put that find in written form for those that asked you find getting this done. This chapter provides the basics for writing a legal memorandum. Not quite as thorough while the semester class most 1st year law students take, but good for the non-lawyer. Is actually a brief section about going to the court and the judge process and about a couple pages on finding and with a lawyer.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is really because lawyer learn by case studies and examples that this chapter provides a research problem, how to discover 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 with the law and accomplish finding your answer.
The book chapters stop here on page 255. The other 100 plus pages is a glossary, which a person does not need should they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually comes with a simple legal dictionary that will not replace “Black’s” but is an efficient resource. As there are a short appendix on topics also index.
Overall, Folks this book could be very valuable for the individual that wants or needs to enjoy legal research but does not know the place to begin. If you need to do-it-yourself, this guide can lead the mode. It is a very good description for this legal research process for everyone without a law degree.