Basic Legal Research : Tools and Strategies

by Sloan, Amy E.

• ISBN13: 9780735556539
• ISBN10: 0735556539
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-19
• 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, Third 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 Basic Legal Research: Tools and Strategies, Third 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 Please visit the new companion website to learn more about this book. Website: http://www.aspenlawschool.com/sloan_basiclegalresearch3

Table of Contents

Preface	xv
Acknowledgments	xix
Introduction to Legal Research	1	(22)
Introduction to the legal system	2	(7)
Introduction to the process of legal research	9	(3)
Overview of print and electronic sources of legal authority	12	(2)
Introduction to legal citation	14	(6)
Overview of this text	20	(3)
Generating Search Terms	23	(6)
Generating search terms based on categories of information	23	(2)
Expanding the initial search	25	(4)
Secondary Source Research	29	(48)
Introduction to secondary sources	29	(2)
Researching secondary sources in print	31	(17)
Researching secondary sources electronically	48	(5)
Citing secondary sources	53	(6)
Sample pages for print secondary source research	59	(15)
Checklist for secondary source research	74	(3)
Case Research	77	(52)
Introduction to cases	77	(6)
Researching cases in print	83	(14)
Researching cases electronically	97	(8)
Citing cases	105	(3)
Sample pages for researching cases using a print digest	108	(20)
Checklist for case research	128	(1)
Research with Shepard's Citations and Other Citators	129	(26)
Introduction to citators	129	(1)
Using Shepard's Citations in print for case research	130	(11)
Checking citations electronically	141	(6)
Shepard's for additional types of authority	147	(1)
Sample pages for Shepardizing a case in print	148	(4)
Checklist for case research with Shepard's Citations and other citators	152	(3)
Statutory Research	155	(44)
Introduction to statutory law	155	(5)
Researching statutes in print	160	(13)
Researching statutes electronically	173	(9)
Citing statutes	182	(2)
Sample pages for print statutory research	184	(14)
Checklist for statutory research	198	(1)
Federal Legislative History Research	199	(40)
Introduction to federal legislative history	199	(6)
Researching federal legislative history in print	205	(11)
Researching federal legislative history electronically	216	(5)
Citing federal legislative history	221	(4)
Sample pages for federal legislative history research	225	(11)
Checklist for federal legislative history research	236	(3)
Federal Administrative Law Research	239	(36)
Introduction to federal administrative law	239	(1)
Researching federal regulations in print	240	(13)
Researching federal regulations electronically	253	(3)
Citing federal regulations	256	(1)
Sample pages for federal administrative law research	257	(15)
Checklist for federal administrative law research	272	(3)
Subject-Matter Service Research	275	(20)
Introduction to subject-matter services	275	(2)
Researching subject-matter services in print, CD-ROM, and Internet formats	277	(3)
Subject-matter research in LexisNexis and Westlaw	280	(1)
Citing subject-matter services	280	(2)
Sample pages for print subject-matter service research	282	(12)
Checklist for subject-matter service research	294	(1)
Electronic Legal Research	295	(38)
Introduction to electronic legal research	296	(6)
Conducting effective electronic legal research	302	(17)
Additional electronic research resources	319	(4)
Citing authority obtained from electronic legal research services	323	(3)
Sample pages for electronic legal research	326	(5)
Checklist for electronic legal research	331	(2)
Developing a Research Plan	333	(28)
Introduction to research planning	333	(1)
Creating a research plan	333	(13)
Finding help	346	(2)
Sample research plans	348	(5)
Research checklists	353	(8)
Appendix A. Selected Internet Research Resources	361	(4)
Index	365