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 could. Many firms have much more the other, and I’m assuming large firms may for you to both. Despite access to a single of these, I discovered that I can often find things faster and much easier with free resources. Many states have statutes and the like on-line these days. More and more are becoming available normally.

That’s if the book “Legal Research” comes in. It provides easy to follow research methods that may you answer your legal questions. In an effort to has sections for on-line research also as the specifics of law libraries for people who have to be able to one.

The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed chapters. The chapters include:
One: Learning the Basics of your Law. Brief descriptions from the the law is, involving law, state versus federal law, as well as the court structure. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, this is a good be released.

Two: Finding Legal Learning websites. This chapter explains where legal results are located, primary and secondary sources, websites for legal topics, and legal research websites. It includes Lexis and Westlaw, furthermore other sites that are free. I like the guidelines and warnings through the book as well. Good caution that 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 before you go looking, like may be the case civil or criminal, figuring the actual area of law extra flab to research, what resources will a person to with what you need to find, and finding out your legal research interrogation. This is important, you wish to know actually really seeking before proceeding searching.

Four: Finding and Using Secondary Information. 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 of your kinds of resources, may will find even more at a law library. This chapter offers a brief brief review 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 to find these resources and how to use them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations together with other rules and ordinances. All of these are vital depending into your particular issue. This chapter is an honest introduction to this world of “laws” for those that are charting unfamiliar territory.

Six: Finding Cases. Quantity our law is not found in statutes, however in the decisions of cases that have previously been made a decision. These cases interpreted laws and have been the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is individuals a famous case that is looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn the right way to use citations to find cases, find cases around the internet, find cases your law collection.

Seven: Using Case Law. This chapter actually explains what an incident is, where did they are published, and how cases affect later disagreements. If you matter utilizes case law, this chapter will to be able to.
Eight: Validating Your Research. I pointed out the tip earlier, which chapter goes further that can you acquiring you have “good police.” It teaches you the way to Shepardize a Case, an activity we lawyers use to ensure the cases we are relying on are still good. If you are striving to make a situation yourself, develop be sure you are relying on “good law.” These are the kinds of things lawyers know that many laypeople don’t.

Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research to use. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is studies. Once you find the information, you must put genuine find in written form for things that asked in which find thought. This chapter provides the basics for writing a legal memorandum. Not as thorough when your semester class most novice law India law library students take, but good for your non-lawyer. However a brief section about going to the court and the court process contributing to a couple pages on finding and working with a lawyer.

Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is really because lawyer learn by case studies and examples that this chapter supplies a research problem, how to discover the facts, and then how to approach the question to studying. It’s very short, it will supply the non-lawyer just a little example of methods to in the law and accomplish finding your answer.

The book chapters stop here onpage 255. The next 100 plus pages is really a glossary, which a person would not need they were a legal dictionary. Nolo actually uses a simple legal dictionary that wont replace “Black’s” but is the best resource. Plus there is a short appendix on topics plus an index.

Overall, Folks this book could be very valuable for the individual that wants or needs to enjoy legal research but does not know where to start. If you have to do-it-yourself, information can lead the mode. It is a very good description in the legal research process for any without a law degree.