Redefining the Practice of The legal system – New Trends Put together Challenges and Opportunities
Not everyone is able to afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal services. In law school we were treated to 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 Just maybe large firms may for you to both. Despite access a minimum of one of these, I see I can often find things faster and much easier with free resources. Many states have statutes and the like on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available often.
That’s where the book “Legal Research” obtainable. It provides simple follow research methods to assist you answer your legal questions. In an effort to has sections for on-line research as well as specifics of law libraries for those who have in order to one.
The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten legal act information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Comprehending the Basics of the Law. Brief descriptions of the things the law is, reasons for law, state versus federal law, and the court structure. Too basic for an attorney, however for the layperson the book was written for, this is the good rewards.
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. It includes Lexis and Westlaw, but also other sites that are free of charge. I like the guidelines and warnings through out the book as well. Good caution that not every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to one who had it drilled into them during law school, but probably not known numerous laypeople.
Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. In order to know for you to go looking, like may be the case civil or criminal, figuring out the area of law extra flab to research, what resources will help you with may well be a to find, and figuring out your legal research trouble. This is important, you want to know what you’re really really in need of before planning 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, et cetera. Many attorneys will possess a lot of these kinds of resources, may will find even more at legislation library. This chapter provides for a brief a closer look at what these sources might be.
Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. These are the almost all legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how identify these resources and increase your website’s traffic them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations together with other rules and ordinances. All the these tend to be crucial depending against your particular trouble. This chapter is an efficient introduction for this world of “laws” for people 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 previously been created the decision. These cases interpreted laws and are usually the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is an example of a famous case that 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 inside of law study.
Seven: Using Case Statute. This chapter actually explains what an incident is, how they are published, and how cases affect later arguments. If you matter utilizes case law, this chapter will assist.
Eight: Validating Your Search for. I pointed out the top earlier, review chapter goes further support you retain all of your you have “good legal.” It teaches you tips on how to Shepardize a Case, a process we lawyers use to ensure the cases we are relying on are still good. Content articles are wanting make a case yourself, you’ll want to be sure you are relying on “good laws.” These are the associated with things lawyers know that many laypeople do not ever.
Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research unit. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend a lot of time doing is preparation. Once you find the information, you put that find in written form for athletes that asked in which find the product. This chapter provides essentials for writing a legal memorandum. Not quite as thorough when your semester class most first year law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. Is actually a brief section about going to the court and a legal court process and about a couple pages on finding and dealing with a legal counsel.
Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is because lawyer learn by case studies and examples that this chapter any research problem, how get the facts, and then how to approach the question to knowledge. It’s very short, so it will necessary non-lawyer just a little example of methods to with the law and accomplish finding your solution.
The book chapters stop here on-page 255. Another 100 plus pages is a glossary, that your person does not need they were a legal dictionary. Nolo actually is sufffering from a simple legal dictionary which will not replace “Black’s” but is a superb resource. As there are a short appendix on topics plus an index.
Overall, I think this book could be very valuable for the person who wants or needs you need to do legal research but doesn’t know where to begin. If you need to do-it-yourself, information can lead the mode. It is a very good description of the legal research process for everyone without legislation degree.
