This article is intended to be a guide to business students and professionals in locating and assessing online legal information in the United States, providing a brief summary of primary and secondary sources of law and distinguishing between state and federal law as a backdrop to legal research. Researchers are encouraged to perform an online search with a tailored list of descriptive search terms. When evaluating online search results, a researcher should identify quality information based on its authority, accuracy, timeliness, objectivity, and coverage. If possible, online researchers should prefer government websites that provide timely, relevant information when retrieving online legal information. A researcher may begin an online search using secondary sources of law, but a successful search should conclude with the interpretation of primary sources of law.
Along with detailed research strategies, this essential guide explains core skills, and provides the necessary background required to research specific areas of the law Founding authors (1st and 2nd editions): Jacqueline Castel and Omeela Latchman Now in this fourth and completely revised edition, this essential guidebook to legal research introduces users to the various legal research materials available to lawyers, law students, law clerks and legal academics. It teaches readers efficient legal research skills, and acts as a reference source by providing some of the essential background required to research specific areas of the law. Along with detailed research strategies, a comprehensive checklist is included. Clark c500 s60. This edition provides in-depth information on such key secondary sources as Canadian legal encyclopedias and the Canadian Abridgment, in addition to books and periodicals. Case law along with statutes and the Constitution are also discussed in detail.
Electronic tools are covered throughout the book. Expanded chapters on American and U.K.
Legal research as well as new information on Quebec, Australia and New Zealand provide additional information to the researcher. A chapter on writing guidelines and a selective bibliography round out and complete this key research tool.
Nancy McCormack, B.A., M.A., M.L.I.S., J.D., LL.M., is an Associate Professor of Law and Librarian at Queen's University. She teaches legal research and writing to upper year and graduate law students, and has published widely on legal research and librarianship. She is the co-author of The Practical Guide to Canadian Legal Research (2010), Updating Statute and Regulations for all Canadian Jurisdictions (2012), Introduction to the Law and Legal System of Canada (2013), Managing Burnout in the Workplace: A Guide for Information Professionals (2013), and the recipient of the 2014 Denis Marshall Memorial Award for Excellence in Law Librarianship.