Not everyone can afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal information. In law school we access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty whenever you got out and started could. Many firms have one or the other, and Just maybe large firms may to be able to both. Even with access to 1 of these, I discovered that I can sometimes find things faster and simpler with free resources. Many states have statutes etc on-line these days. More and more are becoming available all the time.

That’s where the book “Legal Research” will be in. It provides simple to follow research methods that may you answer your legal questions. Was created to promote has sections for on-line research also as the specifics of law libraries for people that have in order to one.

The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:

One: Comprehending the Basics from 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, however for the layperson the book was written for, this can be a good intro.

Two: Finding Legal Resources. This chapter explains where legal information is located, primary and secondary sources, internet resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. It includes Lexis and Westlaw, additionally other sites that cost nothing. I like the information and warnings through the book as well. Good caution that every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to one who had it drilled into them during law school, but probably not known ordinarily laypeople.

Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know in order to go looking, like will be the case civil or criminal, figuring the area of law you would like to research, what resources will allow you with what you need to find, and working out your legal research ponder. This is important, you wish to know what you are really looking for before planning searching.

Four: Finding and Using Secondary Sources. This chapter explores sources such as online 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 possess a lot of these kinds of resources, an individual also will find even more at a law library. This chapter provides for a brief overview of what these sources normally.

Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Are generally generally 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 together with other rules and ordinances. Just about all these are vital depending into your particular hassle. This chapter is an honest introduction for this world of “laws” for people that are charting unfamiliar territory.

Six: Finding Cases. Quantity our law is not found in statutes, however in the decisions of cases that previously been planned. These cases interpreted laws and are now the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is one of a famous case which usually 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 common law library catalogue.

Seven: Using Case Law. This chapter actually explains what an incident is, the way that they are published, and how cases affect later quarrels. If you matter relies on case law, this chapter will a person to.

Eight: Validating Your Search for. I pointed out the top earlier, review chapter goes further to help you retain all of your you have “good guideline.” It teaches you how to Shepardize a Case, a process we lawyers use to create the cases we are relying on are still good. An individual are striving to make a case yourself, you must be sure you are relying on “good .” These are the types of things lawyers know which laypeople never.

Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research to be able to. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is preparation. Once you find the information, you must put that find in written form for those asked a person find it. This chapter provides fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Not only thorough as the semester class most first year law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. However a brief section about going to the court and the judge process resulting in a couple pages on finding and with a lawyer.

Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is they lawyer learn by case studies and examples that this chapter provides a research problem, how to discover the facts, and then how to approach realistic to studying. It’s very short, it will a number of circumstances non-lawyer a little example of how to in the law and begin finding your solution.

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

Overall, I do think this book could be very valuable for the one who wants or needs to do legal research but doesn’t know where to start. If you must do-it-yourself, information can lead the opportunity. It is a very good description of this legal research process for all those without legislation degree.