Legal Research – How uncover & Understand the Law

Not everyone is able to afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal information. In law school we’d access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty for when you got out and started practicing. Many firms have one or the other, and Just maybe large firms may to be able to both. Even with access a minimum of one of these, I realize that I can frequently find things faster and 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 if the book “Legal Research” will be in. It provides simple follow research methods that may you answer your legal questions. Was created to promote has sections for on-line research too as info on law libraries for people that have use of one.

The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed chapters. The chapters include:
One: Regulations Basics from the Law. Brief descriptions of the items the law is, involving law, state versus federal law, and the court unit. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, this may be a good introduction.

Two: Finding Legal Learning websites. This chapter explains where legal facts are located, primary and secondary sources, online common law library resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. Consists of Lexis and Westlaw, additionally other sites that have the freedom. I like the guidelines and warnings through out the book too. Good caution that 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 in order to go looking, like may be the case civil or criminal, figuring out the area of law you want to research, what resources will assist you with the simple fact is to find, and deciding on your legal research question. This is important, you need to know that which you are really interested in 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, et cetera. Many law firm will possess a lot top kinds of resources, may will find even more at a law library. This chapter provides for a brief overview of what these sources might be.

Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Tend to be some the majority of legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how identify these resources and protect yourself with 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 crucial depending on your own own particular hassle. This chapter is an efficient introduction for this world of “laws” for those that are charting unfamiliar territory.

Six: Finding Cases. Much of our law is not found in statutes, however in the decisions of cases that formerly been decided. These cases interpreted laws and have grown to be the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is individuals a famous case is actually looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn tips on how to use citations to find cases, find cases on top of the internet, find cases within the law collection.

Seven: Using Case . This chapter actually explains what an incident is, that are published, and how cases affect later quarrels. If you matter utilizes case law, this chapter will help you.
Eight: Validating Your Analysis. I pointed out the end earlier, see chapter goes further in order to assist you acquiring you have “good legal.” It teaches you tips on how to Shepardize a Case, an operation we lawyers use to ensure the cases we are relying on are still good. If you are planning to make in a situation yourself, you need to be sure you are relying on “good policies.” These are the kinds of things lawyers know lots of laypeople can’t.

Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research using. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is research. Once you find the information, have to put people find in written form for homeowners who asked in order to find thought. This chapter provides essentials for writing a legal memorandum. Not as thorough as 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 a legal court process and approximately a couple pages on finding and with an attorney at law.

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 find the facts, and then how to approach motor oil to research. It’s very short, that this will supply the non-lawyer just a little example of methods to in the law and begin finding the way to go.

The book chapters stop here on page 255. The next 100 plus pages is often a glossary, which a person does not need when they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually has a simple legal dictionary that wont replace “Black’s” but is a superb resource. Then there is a short appendix on topics plus an index.

Overall, I think this book could be very valuable for the individual who wants or needs to enjoy legal research but does not know where to begin. If you are forced to do-it-yourself, information can lead the manner for you. It is a very good description for this legal research process for all those without a law degree.