Not anyone can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal services. In law school we access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty when you got out and started could. Many firms have one or the other, and Maybe large firms may for you to both. Even with access to 1 of these, I recognize that I often find things faster and simpler with free resources. Many states have statutes etc on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available often.
That’s exactly where book “Legal Research” does its part. It provides easy to follow research methods to aid you answer your legal questions. The book has sections for on-line research as well as information regarding 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 of the Law. Brief descriptions of the things the law is, regarding law, state versus federal law, as well as the court routine. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, this can be a good introduction.
Two: Finding Legal Learning websites. This chapter explains where legal results are located, primary and secondary sources, online resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. It offers Lexis and Westlaw, furthermore other sites that cost nothing. I like the ideas and warnings through the actual book too. Good caution doesn’t every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to another kid that had it drilled into them during law school, but probably not known numerous laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know to be able to go looking, like may be the case civil or criminal, figuring the actual area of law Company Vakil law library desire to research, what resources will assist you with try not to to find, and working out your legal research question. This is important, you wish to know what you are really looking for before planning searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Experts. 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, and so on. Many legal businesses will possess a lot of your kinds of resources, may will find even more at legislation library. This chapter provides a brief a closer look at what these sources normally.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Are generally generally the almost all legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to these resources and protect yourself with them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations and other rules and ordinances. All the these tend to be crucial depending against your particular issue. This chapter is a good 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 have previously been made a decision. These cases interpreted laws and currently employ 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 easy methods to use citations to find cases, find cases through the internet, find cases your law catalogue.
Seven: Using Case Legal system. This chapter actually explains what in a situation is, that they are published, and how cases affect later disagreements. If you matter depends upon case law, this chapter will assist.
Eight: Validating Your Look. I pointed out the tip earlier, and this chapter goes further to help you make sure you have “good legal.” It teaches you ways to Shepardize a Case, a procedure we lawyers use to make sure the cases we are relying on are still good. An individual are searching make a situation yourself, you must be sure you are relying on “good law.” These are the types of things lawyers know that many laypeople typically.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research unit. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is research. Once you find the information, you must put what you find in written form for athletes that asked you to find it. This chapter provides fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Much less thorough when your semester class most novice law students take, but good for your non-lawyer. Is actually a brief section about going to court and the judge process leading to a couple pages on finding and working with a personal injury lawyer.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is because lawyer overcome case studies and examples that this chapter the research problem, how learn the facts, and then how to approach realistic to knowledge. It’s very short, so it will provide the non-lawyer a little example of methods to in the law and accomplish finding your solution.
The book chapters stop here on-page 255. Another 100 plus pages is a glossary, which a person definitely would not need when they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually is sufffering from a simple legal dictionary that won’t replace “Black’s” but is a good resource. Then there’s a short appendix on topics also as an index.
Overall, Amazingly exciting . this book could be very valuable for the individual that wants or needs you need to do legal research but doesn’t know the place to begin. If you are required to do-it-yourself, this guide can lead the opportunity. It is a very good description of this legal research process for all those without a law degree.