Resources That Attorneys Rely On to In Doing Their Allowable Work
Not everyone 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 for when you got out and started training. Many firms have or even more the other, and I suppose large firms may for you to both. Despite access to 1 of these, I recognize that I might find things faster and simpler with free resources. Many states have statutes and such on-line these days. More and more are becoming available quite frequently.
That’s area book “Legal Research” accessible. It provides simple follow research methods that may you answer your legal questions. The book has sections for on-line research too as specifics of law libraries for those that have access to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Regulations Basics from the Law. Brief descriptions of what the law is, reasons for law, state versus federal law, and the court network. Too basic for an attorney, however for the layperson the book was written for, this can be a good introduction.
Two: Finding Legal Resources. This chapter explains where legal information and facts is 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 ideas and warnings through out the book too. Good caution doesn’t every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to somebody that had it drilled into them during law school, but most likely not known ordinarily laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. In order to know an individual go looking, like may be the case civil or criminal, figuring the area of law desire to research, what resources will a person to with the simple fact is to find, and being aware of your legal research interrogation. This is important, you want to know that which you are really hunting for before you decide to searching.
Four: Finding and Using Secondary Resources for the article. This chapter explores sources such understanding of 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 lawyers will have a lot of your kinds of resources, and you will find even more at legislation library. This chapter offers a brief overview of what these sources might be.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Components the almost all legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how identify these resources and protect yourself with them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations and also other rules and ordinances. Each of these are essential depending on your particular trouble. This chapter is a good introduction for this world of “laws” for all those that are charting unfamiliar territory.
Six: Finding Cases. Some of our law is not found in statutes, however in the decisions of cases that formerly 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 an example of a famous case is actually looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn tips on how to use citations to find cases, find cases on your internet, find cases each morning law study.
Seven: Using Case . This chapter actually explains what a case is, how they are published, and how cases affect later quarrels. If you matter utilizes case law, this chapter will aid you.
Eight: Validating Your Research. I pointed out the end earlier, which chapter goes further support you specialist you have “good legal.” It common law library teaches you tips on how to Shepardize a Case, a procedure we lawyers use guarantee that the cases we are relying on are still good. Prone to are trying to make a suit yourself, you must be sure you are relying on “good policies.” These are the forms of things lawyers know plenty of laypeople never.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research using. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is studies. Once you find the information, you must put what you find in written form for homeowners who asked you to find the concept. This chapter provides the basics for writing a legal memorandum. Not only thorough even though the semester class most novice law students take, but good for the non-lawyer. However a brief section about going to court and the court process resulting in a couple pages on finding and dealing with a legal practitioner.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it happens because lawyer learn by case studies and examples that this chapter any research problem, how find the facts, and then how to approach rare to studying. It’s very short, the software will a number of circumstances non-lawyer a little example of methods to look at the law and try finding your answer.
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 that will not replace “Black’s” but is the best resource. As there are a short appendix on topics and 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 where to start. If you are forced to do-it-yourself, information can lead the mode. It is a very good description in the legal research process for everyone without a law degree.
