Legal Research: How to Find & Understand the Law

by Stephen Elias

Legal research made simple!



If you're searching for information in a real or virtual law library as a paralegal, law student, legal assistant, journalist, or lay person, finding and accessing the laws that you need to read can be a challenge. Turn to Legal Research, which outlines a systematic method to find answers and get results.



In plain, readable English, Attorney Stephen Elias explains, with plenty of examples and instructions, how to:



read and understand statues, regulations and cases

evaluate cases for their value as precedent

use all the basic tools of legal research

practice what you've learned with "hands-on, library exercises, as well as hypothetical research problems and solutions



This easy-to-use and understand book has been adopted as a text in many law schools and paralegal programs. This edition has been condensed to be more readable and includes an expanded discussion on the use of new legal research tools on the web.

Genres: Law, Legal, Nonfiction, Reference

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 1988

Reviews

[Pansy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am an attorney and I had to read this book for a library science course as part of my Master’s degree program. It does have the virtue of being written in a manner that makes it accessible to the layperson. But in my opinion, it is too basic to really provide a competent basis for doing one’s own legal research (if not legally trained) without the assistance of an attorney. I guess it’s a good introduction for the aspiring law librarian, but those aspiring to that profession need something more substantive than this. That said, for the general layperson, it’s certainly better than nothing, but it isn’t comprehensive enough. I would recommend something like a textbook on legal research for paralegals as an alternative for the layperson who is interested in becoming competent in basic legal research.

[Adrienna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not a typical reading book but a resource tool for legal research (of course). Browsing and reviewing (reading) some of the pages, but some of this I vaguely remember when I had took legal research in master's degree for library science (but we learned the basics without reading books like this). I also will be taking a class in legal writing and research in a month from now (for a semester); so just reviewing ahead of time.

Leisure read 2015, research.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very comprehensive overview of the US legal system—- there’s guidelines on how to do your own legal research, write your own legal memos, and how to navigate the court systems. I know at least have an idea how things work, and where to go if I need more answers.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read. Not enough detail for serious legal research, but good enough for those who want the basics or as something to read before delving into the more academic legal research books.