Not everyone is able to afford Lexis or Westlaw, the two biggest subscriber based on-line legal web sites. In law school we were treated to access to both, because both companies wanted to earn your loyalty whenever you got out and started working towards. Many firms have much more the other, and I’m assuming large firms may to be able to both. Even with access to one of these, I find that I can often find things faster and simpler with free resources. Many states have statutes and such on-line nowadays. More and more are becoming available normally.

That’s area book “Legal Research” will be in. It provides simple follow research methods that may you answer your legal questions. The book has sections for on-line research also as info about law libraries for those who have regarding one.

The book consists of 386 pages divided among ten information packed sections. The chapters include:
One: Regulations Basics with the Law. Brief descriptions of the items the law is, regarding law, state versus federal law, and the court unit. Too basic for an attorney, but for the layperson the book was written for, this can be a good rewards.

Two: Finding Legal Products. This chapter explains where legal the key located, primary and secondary sources, online resources for legal topics, and legal research websites. It includes Lexis and Westlaw, additionally other sites that are free. I like the tips and warnings through the actual book as well. 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 numerous laypeople.

Three: Identifying Your Legal Issue. Things to know in order to go looking, like may be the case civil or criminal, figuring the actual area of law desire to research, what resources will a person to with the simple fact is to find, and finding out your legal research ponder. This is important, you wish to know that which you are really interested in before you travel 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, as well as the. Many legal businesses will possess a lot of these kinds of resources, an individual will find even more at legislation library. This chapter provides brief a closer look at what these sources are typically.

Five: Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances. Of the the bulk of legislatively or administratively created law. This chapter explains how to obtain these resources and strategies for them. It covers finding and using constitutions, finding federal statutes, finding state statutes, understanding them, finding regulations and other rules and ordinances. Each of these are crucial depending against your particular provide. This chapter is a positive introduction for this world of “laws” for those that are charting unfamiliar territory.

Six: Finding Cases. Quantity our law is not found in statutes, but in the decisions of cases that formerly been planned. These cases interpreted laws and currently employ the rule until legislature changes it, or another case overrules it. Roe v. Wade is an example of a famous case is Indian law library actually looked to regarding abortion law. This chapter helps the reader learn how you can use citations to find cases, find cases on top of the internet, find cases your law study.

Seven: Using Case . This chapter actually explains what an incident is, where did they are published, and how cases affect later arguments. If you matter depends on case law, this chapter will help you.
Eight: Validating Your Seek. I pointed out the tip earlier, see chapter goes further to help you guaranteed that you have “good law.” It teaches you the way to Shepardize a Case, a task we lawyers use guarantee that the cases we are relying on are still good. Purchasing are searching make a case yourself, you’ll want to be sure you are relying on “good laws.” These are the kinds of things lawyers know that many laypeople do not ever.

Nine: Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research using. One thing clerks, legal interns, and associates spend lots of time doing is research. Once you find the information, you must put people find in written form for those asked in order to find it. This chapter provides the basics for writing a legal memorandum. Not only thorough when your semester class most novice law students take, but good for that non-lawyer. Genuine effort . a brief section about going to the court and the judge process leading to a couple pages on finding and with a personal injury lawyer.

Ten: Research Hypothetical and Memorandum. Maybe it is they lawyer overcome case studies and examples that this chapter the research problem, how to discover the facts, and then how to approach rare to research. It’s very short, it will necessary non-lawyer just a little example of methods to look at the law and accomplish finding your answer.

The book chapters stop here on page 255. The other 100 plus pages can be a glossary, which a person commonly need whether they have had a legal dictionary. Nolo actually comes with a simple legal dictionary that won’t replace “Black’s” but is an efficient resource. As there are a short appendix on topics plus an index.

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