Basic Legal Research : Tools and Strategies

by Sloan, Amy E.

• ISBN13: 9780735527799
• ISBN10: 0735527792
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-02-01
• Publisher: Wolters Kluwer

Summary

For clear and accessible step-by-step instruction on the basics of legal research, you can count on this thorough revision of a popular paperback text, Basic Legal Research: Tools and Strategies, Second Edition . In addition to teaching critical legal skills, The author fosters confidence through: a building-block approach that breaks the material into discrete and comprehensible parts self-contained chapters on individual research sources And The research process that remain useful regardless of how a professor teaches research comprehensive coverage of electronic research that allows professors to introduce as much - or as little - of the topic as they choose end-of-chapter checklists, clear examples, and summary charts to reinforce learning and facilitate teaching helpful graphics -such as sample pages and examples of research sources - throughout the text the Second Edition responds to both user feedback and developments in the field, with several significant changes: revised and updated coverage of electronic legal research, reflecting the many developments in this area updated citation sections now include the ALWD Citation Manual more information on state statutes new coverage of procedural rules

Table of Contents

Preface	xv
Acknowledgments	xix
Introduction to Legal Research	1	(18)
Sources of law	2	(2)
Types of authority	4	(2)
Introduction to the process of legal research	6	(3)
Overview of print and electronic sources of legal authority	9	(1)
Introduction to legal citation	10	(6)
Overview of this text	16	(3)
Generating Search Terms	19	(6)
Generating search terms based on categories of information	19	(2)
Expanding the initial search	21	(4)
Secondary Source Research	25	(48)
What are secondary sources and why use them?	25	(2)
How to use secondary sources	27	(21)
Electronic research of secondary sources	48	(1)
Citing secondary sources	49	(6)
Sample pages for secondary source research	55	(15)
Checklist for secondary source research	70	(3)
Case Research	73	(50)
Court opinions	73	(7)
Locating cases using a digest	80	(12)
Additional features of digests	92	(3)
Electronic case research	95	(6)
Citing cases	101	(3)
Sample pages for researching cases using a print digest	104	(17)
Checklist for case research	121	(2)
Research with Shepard's Citations and Other Citators	123	(28)
The purpose of a citator	123	(1)
Using Shepard's Citations in print for case research	124	(8)
When to use a citator in case research	132	(3)
Shepard's for additional types of authority	135	(1)
Checking citations electronically	136	(5)
Sample pages for Shepardizing a case in print	141	(7)
Checklist for case research with Shepard's Citations and other citators	148	(3)
Statutory Research	151	(42)
The publication of statutory law	151	(5)
Researching federal statutory provisions in United States Code Annotated	156	(8)
Additional statutory research tools	164	(7)
Electronic statutory research	171	(5)
Citing statutes	176	(2)
Sample pages for statutory research	178	(13)
Checklist for statutory research	191	(2)
Federal Legislative History Research	193	(40)
The process of enacting a law	193	(3)
Sources of federal legislative history	196	(3)
Researching federal legislative history in print	199	(11)
Researching federal legislative history electronically	210	(5)
Citing federal legislative history	215	(4)
Sample pages for federal legislative history research	219	(8)
Checklist for federal legislative history research	227	(6)
Federal Administrative Law Research	233	(34)
Administrative agencies and regulations	233	(1)
Researching federal regulations in print	234	(12)
Shepard's for the Code of Federal Regulations	246	(1)
Electronic research of federal regulations	247	(1)
Citing federal regulations	248	(2)
Sample pages for federal administrative law research	250	(15)
Checklist for federal administrative law research	265	(2)
Subject-Matter Service Research	267	(26)
Overview of subject-matter services	268	(1)
Locating subject-matter services	269	(1)
Conducting subject-matter research using print, CD-ROM, and Internet resources	269	(9)
Subject-matter research in LexisNexis and Westlaw	278	(1)
Citing subject-matter services	279	(1)
Sample pages for subject-matter service research	280	(12)
Checklist for subject-matter service research	292	(1)
Electronic Legal Research	293	(34)
Introduction to electronic legal research	294	(6)
Selecting an electronic legal research service	300	(1)
Constructing, executing, and reviewing an electronic word search	301	(11)
Researching effectively in Westlaw and LexisNexis	312	(5)
Citing electronic legal research services	317	(3)
Sample pages for electronic legal research	320	(4)
Checklist for electronic legal research	324	(3)
Developing a Research Plan	327	(28)
Why create a research plan?	327	(1)
Creating a research plan	327	(13)
Finding help	340	(2)
Sample research plans	342	(5)
Research checklists	347	(8)
Appendix A. Selected Internet Research Resources	355	(6)
Index	361