Legal research made simple! If you're searching for information in a real or virtual law library as a paralegal, law student, legal assistant, journalist, or lay person, finding and accessing the laws that you need to read can be a challenge. Turn toLegal Research, which outlines a systematic method to find answers and get results.In plain, readable English, Attorney Stephen Elias explains, with plenty of examples and instructions, how to: . read and understand statues, regulations and cases. evaluate cases for their value as precedent. use all the basic tools of legal research. practice what you've learned with "hands-on, library exercises, as well as hypothetical research problems and solutions This easy-to-use and understand book has been adopted as a text in many law schools and paralegal programs. This edition has been condensed to be more readable and includes an expanded discussion on the use of new legal research tools on the web.
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| Introduction: Your Legal Research Companion | |
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| Understanding the Basics of the Law | |
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| What Is the Law? | |
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| Sources of Law | |
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| State Versus Federal Law | |
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| The Court System | |
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| Finding Legal Resources | |
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| Where Legal Information Is Located | |
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| Primary Sources and Secondary Sources | |
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| Looking for Legal Resources on the Internet | |
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| Legal Research Websites | |
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| Identifying Your Legal Issue | |
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| How to Approach Your Research | |
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| Is the Issue Civil or Criminal? | |
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| Figuring Out the Area of Law You're Researching | |
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| What Are the Resources That Will Help You Find What You Need? | |
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| Figure Out Your Legal Research Question | |
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| Finding and Using Secondary Sources | |
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| Online Resources | |
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| Self-Help Legal Books | |
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| Legal Encyclopedias | |
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| Form Books | |
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| Practice Manuals | |
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| Continuing Legal Education Publications | |
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| Law Reviews and Other Legal Periodicals | |
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| Specialized Loose-Leaf Materials | |
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| Treatises and Monographs | |
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| Restatements of the Law | |
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| Finding and Using Constitutions, Statutes, Regulations, and Ordinances | |
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| Finding and Using Constitutions | |
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| Finding Federal Statutes | |
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| Finding State Statutes | |
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| Understanding and Using Federal and State Statutes | |
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| Finding and Using Regulations | |
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| Finding and Using Procedural Statutes and Rules | |
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| Finding and Using Local Laws or Ordinances | |
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| Finding Cases | |
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| Using Citations to Find Cases | |
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| Finding Cases on the Internet | |
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| Finding Cases in the Law Library | |
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| The Next Step | |
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| Using Case Law | |
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| What Is a Case? | |
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| How Cases Are Published | |
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| How Cases Affect Later Disputes | |
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| Validating Your Research | |
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| Making Sure It's "Good Law" | |
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| How to Shepardize a Case | |
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| Shepardizing Statutes | |
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| Using Shepard's for Research | |
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| Organizing and Putting Your Legal Research to Use | |
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| Organizing Your Research | |
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| How to Write a Legal Memorandum | |
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| Going to Court | |
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| Finding and Working With a Lawyer | |
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| Research Hypothetical and Memorandum | |
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| Research Problem: Alimony Hypothetical (West Virginia) | |
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| Facts | |
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| How to Approach This Question | |
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| Glossary | |
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| Appendix: Topic-Specific Research Sites | |
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| Index | |
Stephen R. Elias is an attorney and former associate publisher at Nolo, as well as current President of National Bankruptcy Law Project. He is the author of many Nolo books, most recently The New Bankruptcy: Will It Work for You? Other titles include Special Needs Trusts: Protect Your Child's Financial Future, How to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, and Legal Research: How to Find and Understand the Law. He is also one of the original authors/designers of Nolo's bestselling WillMaker software. Steve holds a law degree from Hastings College of Law and was a practicing attorney in California, New York and Vermont before joining Nolo in 1980. He has been featured in such major media as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Good Morning America, 20/20, Money magazine, and more.
