How To Do Legal Research7 min read
Doing legal research can seem daunting, but with the right tools and techniques, it can be a relatively easy process. This article will provide an overview of how to do legal research, including tips on where to find legal resources and how to use them effectively.
One of the best ways to start legal research is by using a legal research guide. These guides provide an overview of the law in specific subject areas, and can be a great starting point for finding relevant legal resources. There are a number of legal research guides available online, and many law libraries also have print versions.
Once you have a general understanding of the law in a particular area, you can start searching for specific legal resources. The best place to start is the library catalog, where you can find information on books, articles, and other resources on specific topics. You can also search for specific legal cases and statutes on the internet.
Once you have found a relevant legal resource, it is important to read it carefully and understand it fully. Many legal resources include citations to additional sources, so be sure to track down those sources as well.
Legal research can be a challenging but rewarding process. By following the tips in this article, you can develop the skills necessary to conduct effective legal research.
Table of Contents
What are the six basic steps of legal research?
There are six basic steps in legal research:
1. Locating Sources
2. Reading and Analyzing Cases
3. Extracting and Summarizing Legal Principles
4. Searching for and Locating Laws
5. Analyzing Legislative History
6. Preparing a Research Memo
1. Locating Sources: The first step in any legal research is to identify and locate the appropriate sources of law. This generally involves using legal research databases, such as Westlaw, LexisNexis, and HeinOnline. In addition, lawyers should also be familiar with their state’s statutory and case law, as well as the federal legal system.
2. Reading and Analyzing Cases: Once a lawyer has identified a relevant case, the next step is to read and analyze it. This involves extracting the legal principles from the case and determining how those principles apply to the facts of the case.
3. Extracting and Summarizing Legal Principles: After reading and analyzing a case, the next step is to extract and summarize the legal principles involved. This involves creating a concise, step-by-step analysis of how the law applies to the facts of the case.
4. Searching for and Locating Laws: Once a lawyer has identified the relevant legal principles, the next step is to locate the corresponding laws. This generally involves using legal research databases or searching the internet.
5. Analyzing Legislative History: In some cases, it may be necessary to analyze a law’s legislative history in order to fully understand how it applies to a particular situation. This generally involves reviewing the bill’s history in the legislature, as well as the testimony of the bill’s sponsors and opponents.
6. Preparing a Research Memo: After completing the above steps, the lawyer should be ready to prepare a research memo. This document will summarize the findings of the legal research and provide a recommendation on how to proceed.
What are the five steps to legal research?
Legal research is the process of finding, analyzing, and using legal information to make informed legal decisions. The five steps to legal research are:
1. Identify the legal question.
2. Gather information about the law.
3. Analyze the law.
4. Apply the law to the facts.
5. Draw a conclusion.
How should you begin legal research?
How should you begin legal research?
Before you can begin legal research, you must first understand what it is. Legal research is the process of finding and using the law to resolve a legal dispute or issue. It can be done in a number of ways, including using a law library, the internet, or legal databases.
The first step in legal research is to determine the specific legal issue you are dealing with. Once you have identified the issue, you can then begin to look for relevant law. This can be done by searching for specific statutes or cases that address your issue.
Once you have found relevant law, you must then analyze it to see how it applies to your situation. This can be a complex process, and you may need to seek the help of a lawyer or other legal professional.
If you are unable to find any relevant law on your own, you may need to seek the help of a legal professional. A lawyer can help you identify and analyze relevant law, and can also provide guidance on how to best resolve your legal issue.
What are the methods of legal research?
There are many methods of legal research that can be used to find case law, statutes, and other legal resources. One of the most common methods is using a legal research database. These databases allow users to search for legal cases, statutes, and other resources by keyword or citation.
Another common method of legal research is using a legal research library. Legal research libraries have a collection of books, articles, and other resources that can be used to research legal cases and statutes.
Another method of legal research is using the internet. The internet has a vast amount of legal resources that can be accessed for free.
The best method of legal research will vary depending on the resources that are available to the researcher.
How do paralegals do legal research?
As a legal professional, you may be called upon to do legal research from time to time. This can be a daunting task, but with the help of a paralegal, it can be much easier.
When doing legal research, it’s important to start with a good source of information. The best place to start is with a legal dictionary, which will help you to understand the legal terms that you are working with. Once you have a basic understanding of the terminology, you can move on to more specific sources of information.
One of the most important tools for legal research is a good law library. Most law libraries have a wide variety of resources that can be helpful in researching a particular legal issue. These resources can include case law, statutes, regulations, and legal articles.
In addition to law books and articles, many law libraries also have electronic resources that can be helpful in legal research. These resources can include online databases of case law and statutes, as well as legal research tools that can help you to find the right law for your case.
If you don’t have access to a law library, you can also do legal research online. There are a number of online resources that can be helpful, including free and subscription-based databases of case law and statutes.
When doing legal research, it’s important to be patient and take your time. The best results will come from careful research and analysis. With the help of a paralegal, you can be confident that you’re doing your legal research the right way.
What is IRAC method?
The IRAC Method is a systematic approach to legal analysis that law students are taught in law school. The acronym IRAC stands for Issue, Rule, Application, and Conclusion.
The Issue is the legal question that needs to be answered.
The Rule is the legal principle that applies to the issue.
The Application is how the rule applies to the facts of the case.
The Conclusion is the answer to the legal question.
What are the tools of legal research?
When it comes to legal research, there are a variety of tools that can be used. The most important thing is to find the right tool for the job. Here are some of the most common tools of legal research:
1. Law reviews: Law reviews are scholarly journals that focus on legal issues. They are a great resource for finding out about recent court decisions, new legislation, and legal scholarship.
2. Statutes: Statutes are the laws that have been passed by the government. They can be found on the internet, in law libraries, and in some government offices.
3. Regulations: Regulations are the rules that are set by the government to implement the statute. They can be found on the internet, in law libraries, and in some government offices.
4. Cases: Cases are the judicial decisions that have been made by the courts. They can be found in law libraries and on the internet.
5. Secondary sources: Secondary sources are books, articles, and websites that discuss legal issues. They can be found in law libraries and on the internet.
