Redefining the Practice of Legal requirement – New Trends Create Challenges and Opportunities
Not anyone can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal services. In law school there were access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty whenever you got out and started could. Many firms have much more the other, and I’m assuming large firms may in order to both. Even with access to at least of these, I recognize that I often find things faster and simpler with free resources. Many states have statutes and the like on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available all the time.
That’s when the book “Legal Research” obtainable. It provides simple 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 those that have to be able to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed chapters. The chapters include:
One: Knowing Basics from the Law. Brief descriptions with the the law is, reasons for law, state versus federal law, along with the court network. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, this can be a good rewards.
Two: Finding Legal Equipment. This chapter explains where legal results are located, primary and secondary sources, online resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. It includes Lexis and Westlaw, however additionally other sites that cost nothing. I like the guidelines and warnings through out the book also. Good caution doesn’t every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to one who had it drilled into them during law school, but probably not known to many laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know for you to go looking, like could be the case civil or criminal, figuring the actual area of law you would like to research, what resources will help you with the simple fact is to find, and being aware of your legal research interrogation. This is important, you want to know actually really hunting for before you travel searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Resources for the article. This chapter India law library 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 so on. Many legal businesses will have a lot of these kinds of resources, and you will find even more at a law library. This chapter provides 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 identify these resources and how to use them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations and other rules and ordinances. All of these tend to be crucial depending into your particular provide. This chapter is a positive introduction to this world of “laws” for all those that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Some of our law is not found in statutes, but in the decisions of cases that formerly been decided. These cases interpreted laws and have been the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is difficulties are people a famous case of which may be looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn how to use citations to find cases, find cases through the internet, find cases inside of law library.
Seven: Using Case Legal system. This chapter actually explains what in a situation is, how they are published, and how cases affect later quarrels. If you matter relies on case law, this chapter will assist.
Eight: Validating Your Search for. I pointed out the top earlier, so, as chapter goes further to help you make sure you have “good legal.” It teaches you how to Shepardize a Case, an activity we lawyers use to ensure the cases we are relying on are still good. Prone to are striving to make in a situation yourself, you’ll want to be sure you are relying on “good laws.” These are the types of things lawyers know lots of laypeople typically.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research to be able to. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is studies. Once you find the information, you put genuine find in written form for those that asked you find the product. This chapter provides essentials for writing a legal memorandum. Not only thorough while 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 a legal court process and about a couple pages on finding and working with a legal counsel.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is because lawyer learn by case studies and examples that this chapter a new research problem, how to discover the facts, and then how to approach the question to research. It’s very short, that this will give the non-lawyer just a little example of methods to in 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, that your person usually need should they have a legal dictionary. Nolo actually comes with a simple legal dictionary that will not replace “Black’s” but is a superb resource. Then there’s a short appendix on topics also index.
Overall, I do think this book could be very valuable for the one who wants or needs to attempt legal research but doesn’t know how to start. If you have to do-it-yourself, this guide can lead the way. It is a very good description of the legal research process for all those without a law degree.
