Not everyone is able to afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal resources. In law school we access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty for when you got out and started studying. Many firms have much more the other, and I reckon that large firms may to be able to both. Despite access to at least of these, I realize that I often find things faster and easier with free resources. Many states have statutes etc on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available often.
That’s if the book “Legal Research” comes in. It provides easy to follow research methods that may you answer your legal questions. System has sections for on-line research as well as info on law libraries for people that have to be able to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Regulations Basics of your Law. Brief descriptions of the items the law is, associated with law, state versus federal law, and also the court system. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, it is a good be released.
Two: Finding Legal Resources. This chapter explains where legal information is located, primary and secondary sources, online resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. Costly Lexis and Westlaw, however other sites that are free of charge. I like the ideas and warnings through out the book as well. Good caution does not every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to somebody that had it drilled into them during law school, but probably not known ordinarily laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know in order to go looking, like could be the case civil or criminal, figuring the area of law you would like to research, what resources will allow you with what you need to find, and figuring out your legal research subject. This is important, you wish to know that which you are really in need of before planning searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Vendors. This chapter explores sources such the way 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 have a lot in their kinds of resources, may will find even more at legislation library. This chapter provides for a brief brief review what these sources have always been.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Of the the almost all legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how uncover these resources and how to use them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations and also other rules and ordinances. Just about all these tend to be crucial depending on top of your particular issue. This chapter is an efficient introduction to this world of “laws” for all those that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. A lot of our law is not found in statutes, however in the decisions of cases that already have been decided. These cases interpreted laws and have been the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is an example of a famous case which is looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn easy methods to use citations to find cases, find cases on your internet, find cases each morning law catalogue.
Seven: Using Case Legal system. This chapter actually explains what in a situation is, that are published, and how cases affect later differences. If you matter utilizes case law, this chapter will assist.
Eight: Validating Your Seek. I pointed out the top earlier, see chapter goes further that can you acquiring you have “good the legal system.” It teaches you how to Shepardize a Case, a process we lawyers use guarantee that the cases we are relying on are still good. An individual are wanting make a situation yourself, develop be sure you are relying on “good legislations.” These are the forms of things lawyers know which laypeople can’t.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research make use of. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is studies. Once you find the information, you must put people find in written form for things that asked you find getting this done. This chapter provides fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Not only thorough when your semester class most 1st year law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. However a brief section about going to the court and the judge process resulting in a couple pages on finding and with a lawyer.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it happens because lawyer learn by case studies and examples that this chapter a new research Indian law library problem, how get the facts, and then how to approach rare to research. It’s very short, so it will supply the non-lawyer just a little example of how to the the law and do finding the way to go.
The book chapters stop here on page 255. The following 100 plus pages can be a glossary, which a person commonly need they were a legal dictionary. Nolo actually comes with a simple legal dictionary that will not replace “Black’s” but is an efficient resource. Then there’s a short appendix on topics plus an index.
Overall, Folks this book could be very valuable for the one that wants or needs you need to do legal research but does not know the place to begin. If you must do-it-yourself, information can lead the chance. It is a very good description in the legal research process for any without a law degree.