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9781418013950

Foundations Of Legal Research And Writing

by ;
  • ISBN13:

    9781418013950

  • ISBN10:

    1418013951

  • Edition: 3rd
  • Format: Paperback
  • Copyright: 2005-08-22
  • Publisher: Cengage Learning
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Summary

This unique text presents a balanced approach to legal research and legal writing. Outstanding chapters on research are included and key topics such as legal reasoning and analysis and computer-assisted legal research are discussed. Chapter concepts are reinforced with end-of-chapter legal research assignments and cyber law exercises, which require students to perform computer-assisted legal research. The writing portion of the text devotes entire chapters to writing client opinion letters, pleadings, contracts, office memos, memoranda of law, and appellate briefs. The many writing tips, case excerpts, and numerous examples provided make this reader-friendly text appealing to students, instructors, and professionals alike.

Table of Contents

Table of Cases
xiii
Preface xv
Acknowledgments xix
Introduction xxi
Law and Sources of Law
1(18)
Introduction
1(1)
The American System of Law
1(6)
Our Tripartite System
7(2)
Interplay Among the Three Branches of Government in Lawmaking
9(4)
Sources of Law
13(3)
Summary
16(1)
Key Terms
17(1)
Exercises
17(1)
Cyberlaw Exercises
17(1)
Discussion Points
18(1)
Legal Reasoning and Analysis
19(30)
Introduction
19(1)
Doctrine of Stare Decisis
20(4)
Judicial Opinions
24(4)
Legal Analysis of Statutory Law
28(8)
Legal Analysis of Constitutional Law
36(4)
Reasoning by Analogy and Deductive Reasoning
40(4)
Summary
44(1)
Key Terms
45(1)
Exercises
46(1)
Cyberlaw Exercises
46(1)
Discussion Points
47(2)
Secondary Sources and Finding Tools
49(58)
Introduction
49(1)
Encyclopedias
50(10)
American Law Reports
60(10)
Attorney General Opinions
70(2)
Restatements of the Law
72(2)
Treatises
74(1)
Legal Dictionaries
74(5)
Legal Directories
79(1)
Formbooks
79(1)
Looseleaf Services
79(1)
Legal Periodicals
80(4)
Digests
84(12)
Summary
96(1)
Key Terms
96(1)
Cyberlaw Exercises
97(1)
Legal Research Assignment--Legal Encyclopedias
97(3)
Legal Research Assignment---American Law Reports
100(3)
Legal Research Assignment -- Digests
103(3)
Discussion Points
106(1)
The Judicial Branch and Cases
107(36)
Introduction
107(1)
The Judicial Branch
107(8)
Reading Cases
115(11)
Briefing a Case
126(4)
Location of Cases
130(2)
Case Citations
132(4)
Summary
136(1)
Key Terms
137(1)
Cyberlaw Exercises
138(1)
Legal Research Assignment---Reading Cases
138(1)
Legal Research Assignment---Case Law
139(3)
Discussion Points
142(1)
Primary Sources: Constitutions, Statutes, Court Rules, and Administrative Law
143(60)
Introduction
143(1)
Constitutions
143(3)
Statutes
146(24)
Court Rules
170(8)
Administrative Law
178(14)
Summary
192(1)
Key Terms
193(1)
Cyberlaw Exercises
193(1)
Legal Research Assignment---Constitutions
194(1)
Legal Research Assignment---Statutes
195(2)
Legal Research Assignment---Court Rules
197(3)
Legal Research Assignment---Administrative Law
200(2)
Discussion Points
202(1)
Citators
203(34)
Introduction
203(1)
Citators
204(2)
Shepardizing Procedure
206(14)
Statutes
220(3)
KeyCite
223(11)
Summary
234(1)
Key Terms
234(1)
Cyberlaw Exercises
234(1)
Legal Research Assignment---Citators
235(1)
Discussion Points
236(1)
Overview of the Research Process and Ethical Considerations
237(26)
Introduction
237(1)
George Peak Illustrative Fact Pattern
237(1)
The Eight Steps of Legal Research
238(1)
Preliminary Considerations
239(3)
Three Basic Approaches to Legal Research
242(1)
Step One: Gathering Information
243(1)
Step Two: Identifying Key Terms
244(4)
Step Three: Learn More About the Area of Law You Are Researching through Second Authority
248(1)
Step Four: Locating Primary Authority
249(1)
Step Five: Locating Other Primary Authority
250(2)
Step Six: Reviewing Found Sources and Updating
252(1)
Step Seven: Deciding Whether You Are Finished with Your Research
253(1)
Step Eight: Evaluate What You Have Found and Determine the Answer to Your Research Question
254(1)
Inadequate Legal Research As an Ethics Violation
254(6)
Summary
260(1)
Key Terms
260(1)
Exercises
260(1)
Cyberlaw Exercises
261(1)
Discussion Points
261(2)
Computer-Assisted Legal Research
263(30)
Introduction
263(1)
History of Computer-Assisted Legal Research
264(1)
CALR: Pros and Cons
264(1)
Evaluative Guidelines
265(3)
Copyright Concerns in a Digital Environment
268(1)
Computer-Assisted Legal Research Tools
268(1)
Legal Databases
268(5)
Public Records Databases
273(2)
Credit Reporting Laws
275(1)
Company and Financial Information
276(5)
Legal and Government Internet Resources
281(1)
Administrative Law
282(1)
Government Agencies
282(1)
Intellectual Property Law
283(1)
International Law
284(1)
Law Reviews, Journals, and Legal Periodicals
284(1)
Legislative Information
285(1)
Case Law
286(1)
Court Dockets and Case History
287(1)
Limitations to Using the Internet as a Research Tool
288(1)
Summary
289(2)
Key Terms
291(1)
Discussion Points
291(1)
Exercises
291(1)
CyberLaw Exercises
292(1)
Introduction to Legal Writing
293(24)
Introduction
293(1)
Importance of Good Legal Writing to the Law
293(18)
Types of Legal Writing
311(4)
Summary
315(1)
Key Terms
315(1)
Cyberlaw Exercises
315(1)
Exercises
316(1)
Discussion Points
316(1)
Fundamentals of Writing
317(14)
Introduction
317(1)
Writing Process
317(2)
Structure
319(5)
Mechanical Errors
324(3)
Summary
327(1)
Key Terms
328(1)
Cyberlaw Exercises
328(1)
Exercises
328(1)
Discussion Points
329(2)
Transmittal Letter and Client Opinion Letter
331(14)
Introduction
331(1)
Purpose of the Transmittal Letter
331(1)
Style of Letters
332(1)
Purpose of the Client Opinion Letter
332(1)
Format of the Client Opinion Letter
333(1)
Sample Client Opinion Letters
334(8)
Summary
342(1)
Cyber Examples
343(1)
Exercises
343(1)
Writing Exercise
343(1)
Discussion Points
343(2)
Writing Contracts
345(18)
Introduction
345(1)
The Substance of the Contract
346(2)
Writing a Contract
348(2)
Checklist of Matters To Be Considered When Writing a Contract for the Sale of Goods
350(1)
The Perfect Contract
350(2)
What's Wrong with the Computer Contract?
352(3)
Checklist for an Employment Contract
355(1)
Organization and Format
355(3)
A Type of Employment Agreement---The Attorney-Client Retainer Agreement
358(2)
Summary
360(1)
Key Terms
361(1)
Cyberlaw Exercises
361(1)
Contract Exercises
361(1)
Discussion Points
362(1)
Pleadings
363(24)
Introduction
363(1)
Purpose and Use
363(1)
Format
364(1)
Format of the Complaint
365(1)
Format of the Answer
366(4)
Evidentiary Facts, Ultimate Facts, and Legal Conclusions
370(4)
First Sample Set of Pleadings
374(5)
Second Sample Set of Pleadings
379(4)
Summary
383(1)
Key Terms
384(1)
Cyberlaw Exercises
384(1)
Cyber Examples
384(1)
Discussion Points
385(2)
Law Office Memo
387(26)
Introduction
387(1)
Purpose and Use
387(1)
Style
388(1)
Format
389(6)
First Sample Office Memo
395(8)
Second Office Menu
403(7)
Summary
410(1)
Key Terms
411(1)
Exercises
411(1)
Cyber Examples
411(1)
Discussion Points
411(2)
Memorandum of Law
413(22)
Introduction
413(1)
Purpose and Use
413(1)
Style
414(1)
Organization
415(1)
Format
416(2)
First Sample Memorandum of Law
418(8)
Second Sample Memorandum of Law
426(6)
Summary
432(1)
Exercises
432(1)
Cyberlaw Exercises and Examples
433(1)
Discussion Points
433(2)
Appellate Brief
435(32)
Introduction
435(1)
Purpose and Use
435(2)
Format
437(5)
First Sample Appellate Brief
442(10)
Second Sample Appellate Brief
452(12)
Summary
464(1)
Key Terms
464(1)
Exercises
464(1)
Cyber Examples
465(1)
Discussion Points
465(2)
APPENDICES
467(96)
Appendix A Search and Seizure
467(24)
Introduction
467(1)
The George Peak Search and Seizure Problem
468(1)
The Fourth Amendment
469(9)
Federal Eavesdropping Statutes
478(7)
Background Information on Search and Seizure
485(4)
Writing Exercises
489(2)
Appendix B Citation Rules
491(6)
General Citation Tips
491(1)
United States Supreme Court Cases
492(1)
United States Courts of Appeals
492(1)
United States District Courts
493(1)
Citations for Constitutions
493(1)
Citations for Statutes
493(1)
Citations for Court Rules
494(1)
Citations for Administrative Law
494(1)
Citations to Legal Encyclopedias
495(1)
Citations to American Law Reports
495(1)
Citations to Attorneys General Opinions
495(1)
Citations to Restatements
496(1)
Citations to a Treatise
496(1)
Citation to Legal Dictionary
496(1)
Citation to a Law Review Article
496(1)
Citation to Internet Material
496(1)
Cyber Citations
496(1)
Appendix C Rules for Quotations and Short-Form Citations
497(10)
Introduction
497(1)
Quotations
497(6)
Short-Form Citations
503(2)
Short-Form Citations for Statutes
505(1)
Exercises on Short-Form Citations
505(2)
Appendix D Mechanical Errors
507(14)
Introduction
507(1)
Excess Words
507(2)
Use of Apostrophes
509(2)
Sentence Fragments
511(1)
Run-On Sentences
512(1)
Parallel Construction
513(2)
Antecedents
515(1)
Active versus Passive Voice
516(2)
Change in Tenses
518(3)
Appendix E Problems
521(6)
Was Swimming Pool an Attractive Nuisance?
521(2)
Defamation
523(1)
The Nightmare Property
524(1)
Wonder What Is In the Package
525(2)
Appendix F Electronic Information Formats
527(1)
Introduction
527(1)
Electronic Information Formats
527(6)
Summary
533(2)
Appendix G Internet Technology
535(4)
Introduction
535(1)
Internet Protocols
535(1)
Internet Domain Names
536(1)
Web Browsers
537(1)
Browser Plug-Ins
537(2)
Appendix H Internet Search Tools
539(8)
Introduction
539(1)
Search Engines
539(1)
Web Directories
540(1)
Meta-Search Engines
541(1)
Specialized and Subject-Specific Search Engines
541(1)
Legal Search Engines
542(2)
Query Planner
544(3)
Appendix I Legal Research Starting Points
547(2)
Introduction
547(2)
Appendix J Federal Law Web Resources
549(4)
Introduction
549(4)
Appendix K State and Local Web Resources
553(2)
Introduction
553(2)
Appendix L International Law Web Resources
555(2)
Introduction
555(2)
Appendix M The Paralegal's Role in Technology
557(6)
Introduction
557(1)
Case Management and Electronic Case Files (CM/ECF)
557(1)
High-Tech Courtrooms
558(2)
Videoconferencing
560(1)
Litigation Support
560(1)
Locating Experts
561(2)
Glossary 563(12)
Index 575

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