Legal Research, Analysis, and Writing

by Hames, Joanne Banker; Ekern, Yvonne

• ISBN13: 9780132447997
• ISBN10: 0132447991
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-01-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

This book presents a practical, integrated approach to legal research, analysis, and writing. It provides readers with all the basic tools they need to research and analyze a problem as well as communicate the results of their research. Introduction to Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis. Analyzing Facts and Identifying Legal Issues. Finding and Analyzing Case Law. How to Brief a Case. Constitutions, Statutes, and Administrative Regulations. Statutory and Constitutional Analysis. Computer Assisted Legal Research (CLAR). How to Create Research Strategies. Basic Legal Writing Tools. Legal Writing. For paralegals or anyone else interested in improving or learning the skills of legal research, analysis, and writing.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
Introduction To Legal Research, Writing, And Analysis	1	(11)
Chapter Outline	1	(1)
Technology Corner	2	(1)
Interoffice Memorandum	3	(5)
Introduction	3	(1)
Legal Research and Law Practice	3	(1)
The Role of the Research Assistant	4	(1)
Legal Publications	5	(1)
The Law Library	5	(1)
Types of Libraries	5	(1)
Types of Materials Found in Law Libraries	6	(2)
The Language of the Law	8	(1)
Citing the Law	8	(1)
Chapter Summary	9	(1)
Terms to Remember	10	(1)
Questions for Review	10	(1)
Can You Figure It Out?	10	(1)
Research Assignments and Activities	10	(1)
Case Project	11	(1)
Before You Begin	12	(19)
Chapter Outline	12	(1)
Technology Corner	13	(1)
Interoffice Memorandum	13	(15)
Introduction	13	(1)
Law and American Government	14	(1)
Federal Laws	14	(1)
State Laws	14	(1)
Relationship between State and Federal Law	14	(7)
Sources of American Law	21	(1)
Constitutional Law	21	(1)
Statutory Law	21	(1)
Administrative Regulations	21	(1)
Case Law	22	(1)
The Appeal Process	23	(1)
Writs of Mandate	24	(1)
Writs of Habeas Corpus	24	(1)
Legal Error	25	(1)
Stare Decisis	25	(1)
Mandatory Authority and Persuasive Authority	25	(1)
Relationship between Sources of Law	25	(1)
West Topic and Key Number System and Lawyers Cooperative Total Client-Service Library	26	(2)
Chapter Summary	28	(1)
Terms to Remember	28	(1)
Questions for Review	29	(1)
Can You Figure It Out?	29	(1)
Research Assignments and Activities	29	(1)
Case Project	30	(1)
The Starting Point: Analyzing Facts And Identifying Legal Issues	31	(21)
Chapter Outline	31	(1)
Technology Corner	32	(1)
Interoffice Memorandum	32	(18)
Introduction	33	(1)
Know and Analyze the Facts	33	(1)
How to Sort the Facts of a Client's Case	34	(1)
How to Compare Case Law Facts with Your Client's Facts	34	(6)
Legal Issues	40	(1)
How to Identify the Legal Issues	41	(1)
Issues in Your Client's Case	41	(1)
Issues in a Reported Case	41	(1)
How Issue Statements are Written	42	(8)
Chapter Summary	50	(1)
Terms to Remember	50	(1)
Questions for Review	50	(1)
Can You Figure It Out?	50	(1)
Research Assignments and Activities	51	(1)
Case Project	51	(1)
Finding And Analyzing Case Law	52	(41)
Chapter Outline	52	(1)
Technology Corner	53	(1)
Interoffice Memorandum	54	(36)
Overview of Case Law and the Concept of State Decisis	54	(1)
Where to Find Case Law	54	(1)
Case Law Reporters	54	(1)
Lexis-Nexis and Westlaw	55	(1)
CD-ROM Products	55	(1)
Internet	55	(1)
What Is a Case?	55	(1)
Case Citations	56	(3)
Federal Case Law	59	(1)
United States Supreme Court Case Law	59	(17)
Other Federal Reporters	76	(1)
Specialized Reporters	76	(1)
State Case Law	77	(1)
Regional Reporters	77	(1)
Official Reporters	77	(1)
Unofficial Reporters	77	(1)
Other Sources	78	(1)
How to Read a Case	79	(1)
Components of a Case	79	(10)
Official and Unofficial Publications	89	(1)
How to Use Case Law	89	(1)
Compare and Contrast the Facts of a Reported Case with Your Client's Facts	89	(1)
Chapter Summary	90	(1)
Terms to Remember	91	(1)
Questions for Review	91	(1)
Can You Figure It Out?	91	(1)
Research Assignments and Activities	92	(1)
Case Project	92	(1)
How To Brief A Case	93	(18)
Chapter Outline	93	(1)
Technology Corner	94	(1)
Interoffice Memorandum	94	(14)
Purpose of a Case Brief	94	(1)
The Components of a Case Brief	95	(1)
Name and Citation of the Case	95	(1)
Judicial History	95	(1)
Facts	96	(1)
Issue(s)	96	(1)
Rule(s)	96	(1)
Analysis or Reasoning	96	(1)
Conclusion or Holding	96	(5)
How to Write a Case Brief	101	(5)
Analysis and the Case Brief	106	(1)
An Approach to a Daunting Project	106	(2)
Chapter Summary	108	(1)
Terms to Remember	109	(1)
Questions for Review	109	(1)
Can You Figure It Out?	109	(1)
Research Assignments and Activities	109	(2)
Constitutions, Statutes, And Administrative Regulations	111	(35)
Chapter Outline	111	(1)
Technology Corner	112	(1)
Interoffice Memorandum	112	(28)
Introduction	112	(1)
Constitutions	113	(1)
Federal Statutory Law	113	(1)
Enactment of Statutory Law	113	(5)
Initial Publications of Statutes	118	(2)
United States Codes	120	(4)
Legislative Histories	124	(1)
United States Code Publications	124	(1)
Pocket Part Supplements	125	(1)
State Statutory Law	125	(6)
Local Ordinances	131	(1)
Administrative Regulations	131	(5)
Court Rules	136	(1)
Uniform Laws and Model Codes	136	(1)
Finding Constitutional Provisions, Statutory Law, Administrative Regulations and Rules of Court	137	(1)
Finding the Law	137	(3)
Finding Administrative Regulations and Rules of Court	140	(1)
Chapter Summary	140	(3)
Terms to Remember	143	(1)
Questions for Review	143	(1)
Can You Figure It Out?	144	(1)
Research Assignments and Activites	144	(1)
Case Project	145	(1)
Statutory And Constitutional Analysis	146	(29)
Chapter Outline	146	(1)
Technology Corner	147	(1)
Interoffice Memorandum	148	(24)
Introduction	148	(1)
Statutory Analysis	149	(1)
Outline Statutory Language	149	(1)
Review Case Law that Interprets Code Provisions	150	(1)
Review Other Code Sections	150	(9)
Watch Your Dates	159	(1)
Legislative History	159	(1)
Applying Statutory Law to a Fact Pattern	160	(9)
Constitutional Analysis	169	(1)
Federalism---the Relationship Between Federal and State Government	170	(2)
Chapter Summary	172	(1)
Terms to Remember	172	(1)
Questions for Review	172	(1)
Can You Figure It Out?	172	(1)
Research Assignment and Activities	173	(1)
Case Project	174	(1)
Secondary Sources	175	(36)
Chapter Outline	175	(1)
Technology Corner	176	(1)
Interoffice Memorandum	176	(32)
Introduction	176	(1)
Features of Secondary Source Materials	177	(7)
Legal Encyclopedias: American Jurisprudence 2nd and Corpus Juris Secundum	184	(1)
Using Legal Encyclopedias	184	(5)
American Law Reports	189	(1)
Using A. L. R.	190	(13)
Treatises	203	(1)
Using a Treatise	204	(1)
Periodicals	204	(1)
Guides to Periodicals	204	(3)
Looseleaf Services	207	(1)
Chapter Summary	208	(1)
Terms to Remember	208	(1)
Questions for Review	208	(1)
Can You Figure It Out?	209	(1)
Research Assignments and Activities	209	(1)
Case Project	210	(1)
Digests and Miscellaneous Research Tools	211	(32)
Chapter Outline	211	(1)
Technology Corner	212	(1)
Interoffice Memorandum	212	(29)
Introduction	213	(1)
Digests	213	(1)
Headnotes	213	(3)
Digest Topics	216	(1)
West Digests	216	(1)
The American Digest System	216	(5)
State Digests	221	(1)
Federal and Supreme Court Digests	221	(1)
Specialty Digests	221	(1)
West Digests	221	(6)
LEXIS Law Publishing Digests	227	(1)
Using Digests	227	(1)
Restatement of Law	228	(1)
Form Books	229	(1)
Pattern Jury Instructions	229	(8)
The Legal Dictionary and Legal Thesaurus	237	(4)
Chapter Summary	241	(1)
Terms to Remember	241	(1)
Questions for Review	241	(1)
Can You Figure It Out?	242	(1)
Research Assignments and Activities	242	(1)
Case Project	242	(1)
Validating Your Research: Using Shepard's And Other Citators	243	(26)
Chapter Outline	243	(1)
Technology Corner	244	(1)
Interoffice Memorandum	244	(20)
Introduction to Citators	244	(1)
Shepard's Citations	245	(1)
Shepard's Case Citations	246	(6)
Shepard's Case Citators in Print	252	(3)
Shepard's Cases on CD-ROM	255	(1)
Shepard's On-line	256	(1)
Shepard's Statutory Citators	257	(4)
Other Electronic Citators	261	(3)
Cite Checking a Document	264	(1)
Chapter Summary	264	(1)
Terms to Remember	265	(1)
Questions for Review	265	(1)
Can You Figure It Out?	265	(1)
Research Assignments and Activites	266	(1)
Case Projects	267	(2)
Computer Assisted Legal Research (Calr)	269	(16)
Chapter Outline	269	(1)
Technology Corner	270	(1)
Interoffice Memorandum	270	(12)
Introduction	270	(1)
Types of Computer Assisted Legal Research (Calr)	271	(1)
CD-ROM	271	(1)
LEXIS-NEXIS	271	(2)
Westlaw	273	(1)
Internet	273	(1)
Intranets	274	(1)
Search Methods	275	(1)
Full Text Searching	276	(1)
Boolean Searching	277	(2)
Natural Language Searches	279	(1)
Locating Known Citations	279	(1)
Preparing to Search	279	(2)
Search Possibilities and Problems	281	(1)
Software Enhancements	281	(1)
Chapter Summary	282	(1)
Terms to Remember	282	(1)
Questions for Review	283	(1)
Can You Figure It Out?	283	(1)
Research Assignments and Activities	283	(1)
Case Project	284	(1)
How To Create Research Strategies	285	(41)
Chapter Outline	285	(1)
Technology Corner	286	(1)
Interoffice Memorandum	286	(38)
Introduction	286	(1)
Create the Vocabulary List	287	(1)
Formulate the Issue for Initial Research Purposes	287	(1)
Use the Legal Dictionary and Thesaurus	287	(1)
Create a Research Plan Before Going to the Law Library	288	(1)
Take Your Research Terms/Vocabulary to the Indexes	289	(8)
Effective Use of the Index Volumes Enables You to Add Terms to Your Research Vocabulary List	297	(13)
When to Begin Research in Primary Sources	310	(1)
When to Begin Research in Secondary Sources	311	(11)
Update and Validate Your Research Results	322	(1)
Take Notes When Working with Printed Materials	322	(1)
Take Notes and Record Results When Working with On-Line or CD-ROM Materials	323	(1)
Organization of Photocopied or Downloaded Materials	323	(1)
Chapter Summary	324	(1)
Terms to Remember	324	(1)
Questions for Review	325	(1)
Research Assignments and Activities	325	(1)
Case Project	325	(1)
Basic Legal Writing Tools	326	(9)
Chapter Outline	326	(1)
Technology Corner	327	(1)
Interoffice Memorandum	327	(7)
Initial Considerations After Completion of the Research	327	(1)
Overview of a Legal Research and Writing Project	327	(1)
The Thesis Paragraph	328	(1)
How to Arrange a Thesis Paragraph	328	(1)
Paragraphs in General	329	(1)
The Role of Topic Sentences	329	(1)
Construction of a Well-Written Paragraph	330	(1)
Sentences	330	(1)
Use Topic Sentences	331	(1)
Use Active Voice	331	(1)
Keep Legal Writing Simple	331	(1)
Use Short Sentences	331	(1)
Avoid Unnecessary Words	332	(1)
Use Specifice, Concrete Terms	332	(1)
Persuasive Writing	332	(1)
Overview of the Editing and Revision Process	333	(1)
Chapter Summary	334	(1)
Terms to Remember	334	(1)
Questions for Review	334	(1)
Research Assignments and Projects	334	(1)
Legal Writing: Writing To Inform	335	(30)
Chapter Outline	335	(1)
Technology Corner	336	(1)
Interoffice Memorandum	336	(27)
Introduction	336	(1)
Memorandum of Law	337	(1)
Format for a Memorandum of Law	338	(1)
Preparing to Write the Memorandum of Law	339	(1)
Organizing a Memorandum	339	(1)
Situations Controlled by Statutory Law	339	(2)
Situations Controlled by Case Law	341	(7)
Writing the Memorandum of Law	348	(1)
Statement of Facts	348	(1)
Issue Statement	348	(1)
Discussion	348	(1)
Analysis	349	(1)
Citing Authorities	349	(1)
Conclusion	350	(11)
Opinion Letters	361	(2)
Chapter Summary	363	(1)
Terms to Remember	363	(1)
Questions for Review	363	(1)
Can You Figure It Out?	364	(1)
Research Assignments and Activities	364	(1)
Case Project	364	(1)
Writing To The Court	365	(34)
Chapter Outline	365	(1)
Technology Corner	366	(1)
Interoffice Memorandum	366	(29)
Introduction	366	(1)
Rules of Court	367	(1)
Common Features	367	(1)
Case Caption	367	(1)
Table of Contents	367	(2)
Table of Authorities	369	(1)
Statement of Facts	369	(8)
Statement of Issue(s) or Questions Presented	377	(1)
Summary of Argument	377	(3)
Argument	380	(1)
Conclusion	380	(1)
Signature	380	(11)
Memorandum of Points and Authorities	391	(1)
Declarations	392	(2)
Trial Briefs	394	(1)
Appellate Briefs	394	(1)
Role of Research Assistant	395	(1)
Chapter Summary	395	(2)
Terms to Remember	397	(1)
Questions for Review	397	(1)
Can You Figure It Out?	397	(1)
Research Assignments and Activities	398	(1)
Case Project	398	(1)
Appendix A Research Problems	399	(6)
Appendix B Basic Citation Reference Guide	405	(5)
Appendix C Creating Research Strategies	410	(5)
Appendix D Defendants' Joint Memorandum Of Points And Authorities	415	(33)
Appendix E Appellate Brief	448	(23)
Glossary	471	(6)
Index	477