Not everybody can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal resources. In law school we had access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty when you got out and started training. Many firms have much more the other, and Maybe large firms may in order to both. Despite access to 1 of these, I recognize that I 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 on a daily basis.
That’s area book “Legal Research” obtainable. It provides easy to follow research methods that may you answer your legal questions. System has sections for on-line research also as specifics of law libraries for those who have regarding one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed chapters. The chapters include:
One: Knowing Basics with the Law. Brief descriptions of the things the law is, sources of law, state versus federal law, along with the court structure. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, this is the good rewards.
Two: Finding Legal Equipment. This chapter explains where legal results are located, primary and secondary sources, websites for legal topics, and legal research websites. Costly Lexis and Westlaw, additionally other sites that are free of charge. I like the guidelines and warnings through out the book too. Good caution that every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to one who had it drilled into them during law school, but most likely not known many laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. In order 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 a person to with the simple fact is to find, and deciding on your legal research interrogation. This is important, you want to know what you are really in need of before proceeding searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Sources. 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, and many. Many lawyers will have a lot of your kinds of resources, and will find even more at legislation library. This chapter provides for a brief an assessment what these sources are typically.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Components the bulk of legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how uncover 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. All of these tend to be crucial depending on your particular issue. This chapter is a good introduction for this world of “laws” for people that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Much of our law is not found in statutes, but in the decisions of cases that have previously 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 in the following paragraphs a famous case that is looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn how you can use citations to find cases, find cases on the internet, find cases within the law archive.
Seven: Using Case Statute. This chapter actually explains what an incident is, that are published, and how cases affect later arguments. If you matter relies upon case law, this chapter will aid you.
Eight: Validating Your Seek. I pointed out the tip earlier, which chapter goes further support you make sure you have “good law.” It teaches you ways to Shepardize a Case, a process we lawyers use guarantee that the cases we are relying on are still good. An individual are trying to make in instances yourself, you need to be sure you are relying on “good laws.” These are the associated with things lawyers know which laypeople typically.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research make use of. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is preparation. Once you find the information, you put true find in written form for those that asked in order to find it. This chapter provides the basics for writing a legal memorandum. Not quite as thorough when your semester class most 1st year law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. Can be a brief section about going to the court and a legal court process and about a couple pages on finding and working with an attorney at law.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is because lawyer improve by case studies and examples that this chapter a new research problem, how learn the facts, and then how to approach the question to studying. It’s very short, and so it will necessary non-lawyer a little example of methods to look at the law and accomplish finding your answer.
The book chapters stop here on-page 255. Your next 100 plus pages is a glossary, which a person commonly need when they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually uses a simple legal dictionary that will not replace “Black’s” but is the best resource. There is a short appendix on topics also as an index.
Overall, I think this book could be very valuable for the individual who wants or needs you need to do Company Vakil legal library research but doesn’t know where to begin. If you have to do-it-yourself, information can lead the manner for you. It is a very good description for this legal research process for everyone without legislation degree.