Resources That Attorneys Rely On a In Doing Their Legal Work
Not anyone can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal natural resources. In law school we’d access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty when ever you got out and started training. Many firms have much more the other, and Maybe large firms may to be able to both. Despite access to at least of these, I find that I can frequently find things faster and much easier with free resources. Many states have statutes etc on-line these days. More and more are becoming available quite frequently.
That’s when the book “Legal Research” comes in. It provides to be able to follow research methods that may you answer your legal questions. Was created to promote has sections for on-line research also as info on 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: Learning the Basics among the Law. Brief descriptions of the things the law is, sources of law, state versus federal law, and also the court system. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, this may be a good acclimatation.
Two: common law library finding Legal Websites. This chapter explains where legal information and facts is located, primary and secondary sources, online resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. It offers Lexis and Westlaw, however additionally other sites that have the freedom. I like the information and warnings through the actual book also. Good caution not every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to another kid that had it drilled into them during law school, but probably not known many laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know for you to go looking, like will be the case civil or criminal, figuring the actual area of law you want to research, what resources will help you with the simple fact is to find, and finding out your legal research subject. This is important, you wish to know actually really seeking before you go searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Vendors. This chapter explores sources such exactly how 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 law firm will possess a lot top kinds of resources, an individual will find even more at legislation library. This chapter provides brief report on what these sources are typically.
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 to these resources and protect yourself with them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations along with rules and ordinances. All the these are essential depending on your own own particular trouble. This chapter is an honest introduction to this world of “laws” for anyone that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. A wide variety of our law is not found in statutes, but in the decisions of cases that already have been figured. These cases interpreted laws and are now the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is difficulties are people a famous case which is looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn the right way to use citations to find cases, find cases through the internet, find cases each morning law archive.
Seven: Using Case Legal system. This chapter actually explains what an incident is, that they are published, and how cases affect later quarrels. If you matter depends on case law, this chapter will aid you.
Eight: Validating Your Seek. I pointed out the tip earlier, see chapter goes further in order to assist you retain all of your you have “good law.” It teaches you how to Shepardize a Case, an activity we lawyers use to make sure the cases we are relying on are still good. An individual are planning to make a case yourself, develop be sure you are relying on “good legislations.” These are the kinds of things lawyers know a number of laypeople don’t.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research make use of. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is preparation. Once you find the information, ought to put people find in written form for things that asked you find the concept. This chapter provides the fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Much less thorough as the semester class most first year law students take, but good for the non-lawyer. There is a brief section about going to court and the judge process contributing to a couple pages on finding and with a legal counsel.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is really because lawyer overcome 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, that this will a number of circumstances non-lawyer just a little example of how to look at the law and go about finding your solution.
The book chapters stop here on page 255. The next 100 plus pages is really a glossary, which a person commonly need should they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually is sufffering from a simple legal dictionary which will not replace “Black’s” but decent resource. There is a short appendix on topics also as an index.
Overall, Amazingly exciting . this book could be very valuable for the individual who wants or needs to do legal research but doesn’t know where to start. If you have to do-it-yourself, this guide can lead the manner for you. It is a very good description of the legal research process for all those without a law degree.
