Not everybody is able to afford Lexis or Indian law library Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal resources. 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 or even more the other, and I reckon that large firms may for you to both. Even with access to a single of these, I realize that I can often find things faster and easier with free resources. Many states have statutes and the like on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available normally.

That’s area book “Legal Research” comes in. It provides to be able to follow research methods that may you answer your legal questions. System has sections for on-line research also as info on law libraries for people who have in order to one.

The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Understanding the Basics of your Law. Brief descriptions of the items the law is, involving law, state versus federal law, and also the court structure. Too basic for an attorney, however for the layperson the book was written for, this is a good intro.

Two: Finding Legal Learning websites. This chapter explains where legal information is located, primary and secondary sources, websites for legal topics, and legal research websites. Costly Lexis and Westlaw, furthermore other sites that cost nothing. I like the guidelines and warnings through the actual book as well. Good caution does not every opinion you find is good law. Obvious to another kid that had it drilled into them during law school, but most likely not known since laypeople.

Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know for you to go looking, like will be the case civil or criminal, figuring the actual area of law you would like to research, what resources will a person to with may well be a to find, and being aware of your legal research question. This is important, you wish to know what you are really seeking before planning searching.

Four: Finding and Using Secondary Information. This chapter explores sources such exactly how 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 because of kinds of resources, may will find even more at legislation library. This chapter offers a brief an assessment what these sources might be.

Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Are generally generally the almost all legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to these resources and how to use them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations and also rules and ordinances. All of these are important depending into your particular provide. This chapter is an efficient introduction to this world of “laws” for 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 have already been figured. These cases interpreted laws and currently employ 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 your law library.

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

Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research to be able to. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is research. Once you find the information, you must put what you find in written form for things that asked you find thought. This chapter provides the fundamentals for writing a legal memorandum. Not as thorough even though the semester class most 1st year law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. Can be a brief section about going to the court and the court process and approximately a couple pages on finding and dealing with an attorney at law.

Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is really because lawyer overcome case studies and examples that this chapter supplies a research problem, how get the facts, and then how to approach the question to become familiar with. It’s very short, it will necessary non-lawyer just a little example of how to in the law and do finding your answer.

The book chapters stop here on-page 255. The next 100 plus pages is often a glossary, which a person definitely would not need they were a legal dictionary. Nolo actually comes with a simple legal dictionary that wont replace “Black’s” but decent resource. Plus there is a short appendix on topics along with an index.

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