Legal Research Explained

Instructors who are looking for a clear and concise text introducing students to the basic methods of legal research will welcome Legal Research Explained . Based upon the legal research section of Bouchoux’s highly successful Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals, The material in this text has been modified, condensed and updated to fit courses covering only legal research. This engaging text helps students develop both knowledge and confidence: • using a building-block approach, which is instrumental in ensuring that students master the critical skills of legal research, Bouchoux discusses conventional print legal research sources before computer-assisted and electronic sources. Similarly, primary authorities are discussed before secondary authorities and statutes are covered before cases, because this is the order in which it happens in practice • divided into five sections : 1) conducting legal research using primary authorities; 2) conducting legal research using secondary authorities and other research aids; 3) computer-assisted legal research And The Internet; 4) legal citation form and validating authorities; and 5) “putting it all together” and providing a final overview of the legal research process • Text includes: o examples of citation form (in both ALWD and Bluebook format) o questions relating To The materials discussed in each chapter and requiring students to use pertinent sources to locate the answers to those questions o section at the end of each chapter requiring students to access the Internet to locate answers to questions so that students become proficient in quickly locating the types of information an employer will require them to retrieve, such as local court rules o Practice Tips in each chapter, offering realistic and helpful suggestions for workplace success • up-to-date sample pages in each chapter illustrate the features of various legal research authorities. the book is part of a comprehensive instructional package that includes PowerPoint slides and an extensive Instructor’s Manual featuring: • sample syllabi • information on teaching strategies • chapter-by-chapter resource information • answer keys for all discussion questions and Internet assignments • detailed suggestions for additional assignments • a Test Bank of exam questions Professors in search of a text that applies a building-block approach to developing a firm foundation for legal research are sure to be delighted with Bouchoux’s new book; Legal Research Explained . In addition to providing students with the skills and resources that they will need as they progress professionally, instructors are also provided with a comprehensive educational package to aid in the effort to impart a complete understanding of the fundamentals of legal research. An author website to support classroom instruction using this title is available at http://www.aspenlawschool.com/bouchoux_explained

"This book offers students a comprehensive guide to conducting legal research in paralegal and law clerk programs."--

The Fifth Edition of Legal Research Explained offers accessible, complete, and timely coverage specifically created for Legal Research courses. Deborah E. Bouchoux’s popular building-block approach ensures that all students can master these essential skills. The text is divided into five sections: 1) conducting legal research using primary authorities; 2) conducting legal research using secondary authorities and other research aids; 3) electronic and computer resources; 4) legal citation form and validating authorities; and 5) “putting it all together,” providing a final overview of the legal research process. Research assignments in each chapter, completely updated for this edition, give students practice with both conventional print resources and online sources. Charts, diagrams, and sample pages from research resources help students understand complex topics. In addition, Practice Tips in each chapter offer realistic and helpful suggestions for workplace success, and Ethics Alerts are included throughout the book. New to the Fifth Edition: New “Sidebar” feature provides quick tips showing how the material in that chapter applies to computer-assisted legal research systems, such as Lexis, Westlaw, and Bloomberg Law. Discussion of GovInfo, which provides free public access to official and authenticated publications from all three branches of the federal government. Coverage of new tools used for cite-checking, including EVA and Bestlaw. Discussion of Westlaw Edge, Westlaw’s new research platform. Extensive new coverage of artificial intelligence features that boost legal research. References to helpful YouTube videos for tips on Shepardizing, KeyCiting, and researching. New section on sources that provide free public access to the law, including Harvard’s Caselaw Access Project, CourtListener, and RECAP Project. New section on preparing informal or email memoranda, with a new assignment. All new Research Questions and Internet Legal Research Assignments included. Professors and students will benefit from: Pedagogy designed to enhance the accessibility of the material, including helpful charts and diagrams, annotated sample pages and screen shots that illustrate legal research authorities, updated Practice Tips offering realistic and helpful suggestions for workplace success, and Ethics Alerts in every chapter. Well-designed assignments help students learn how to use a wide range of research sources. Chapters that demonstrate citation form for the resources discussed. Conscientious revision that ensures that the book has the most up-to-date material, presented in a readable and accessible format.

* LOISLAW Packaged with 4 months free access to Loislaw's online legal research database. * BLACKBOARD Available in Blackboard online course format. * ECOLLEGE Available in eCollege online course format. * COMPANION WEBSITE www.aspenparalegaled.com/bouchoux_legalresearch5 ( Contact your Aspen Representative for more information about these resources.) Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals offers students a lucid, well-organized introduction to legal research and writing. Designed and written specifically for paralegal students, The fifth edition of this widely acclaimed text continues to be an exemplary teaching and learning tool. Among the attributes that have contributed To The success of this text: comprehensive overview of research and writing skills, reinforced by illustrations and exercises. integration of writing strategies into each research chapter to demonstrate the link between the two processes. thorough coverage of electronic research, including a chapter on Internet research as well as fee-based services such as Lexis and Westlaw. Tips throughout the text demonstrate how to most effectively use electronic resources. descriptive charts and diagrams that help students understand complex topics. Practice Tips in each chapter offer realistic and helpful suggestions for workplace success. Internet Assignments help students learn how to navigate through cyberspace. These questions, which can be made state specific, require students to access relevant Internet sites and locate information. thorough explanations of proper citation form for both ALWD and The Bluebook and updating and validating legal authorities. samples of legal writing, such as a case brief, letters, a court brief, and a legal memorandum. in-depth Instructor’s Manual that includes an overview of the text, sample syllabi, tips on teaching strategies, chapter-by-chapter resource information, answer keys for all assignments, and a test bank. Thoroughly updated to reflect changes in legal research sources and techniques, The Fifth Edition includes: updated information on legal writing . new sample pages. new discussion questions. new questions requiring readers to access pertinent Internet sites to locate information, mirroring what paralegals do in practice. ethics alerts now included in each chapter, providing a quick and concise ethics tip relating To The information in that chapter. Chapter 9 on Updating and Validating the Law is now more concise, reflecting the fact that updating is now done nearly exclusively electronically. Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals, Fifth Edition, designed to focus on issues paralegals face on the job, provides an excellent introduction to the science—and art—involved in legal research and writing.

Texas Legal Research, Second Edition, is a practical, process-oriented guide to the skills and resources necessary to research Texas law. The book is designed for teaching first-year students, either as a stand-alone text or in conjunction with a research text focusing on federal law. The book is also suitable for use in advanced legal research courses. Others who will find the book useful include practitioners, paralegals, college students, laypersons, and anyone needing a concise handbook on how to find and use Texas legal materials. The book begins by explaining the nature and types of legal authority. The process of legal research and control of legal research projects are described in the first chapter, with an emphasis on the integral nature of legal research and legal analysis. These concepts are revisited and reinforced throughout the book. The second chapter explains basic principles underlying legal research, factors to consider in choosing whether to search online or in print, and techniques to add power and precision to legal research. Since students often use online research tools from the beginning of their studies, the second chapter also introduces online searching techniques and principles. Research using print and online resources is explained for each type of legal resource throughout the book. The order of coverage of types of legal authority has been substantially changed in the second edition, in order to track the author's recommended research process. Secondary materials are now addressed in chapter 3, followed by chapters devoted to the resources and techniques of constitutional research, statutory research, legislative history research, administrative agency law research, and case law research. The second edition adds an entirely new chapter on Texas local government law research. The historical and governmental roots of Texas legal resources are traced for each type of primary law. Updating techniques are explained in context for each type of legal material and a chapter is devoted to the use of online citators. An appendix explains the basics of legal citation, the use of the Greenbook and the Bluebook, special rules of Texas citation, and the ALWD Guide to Legal Citation. The second edition contains a new appendix discussing techniques for searching directly in the online case databases included in Westlaw, Lexis Advance, and Bloomberg Law. Most chapters contain tables with step-by-step guides to research in particular types of legal resources, as well as summaries of other critical information. Screenshots and images of research materials are included to illustrate the lessons of the text. For each type of resource, research in federal law is addressed following the discussion of research in Texas law. This book is part of the Legal Research Series, edited by Suzanne E. Rowe, Director of Legal Research and Writing, University of Oregon School of Law.

Softbound - New, softbound print book.

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An Introduction to Empirical Legal Research introduces empirical methodology in a legal context, explaining how empirical analysis can inform legal arguments; how lawyers can set about framing empirical questions, conducting empirical research, analysing data, and presenting or evaluating the results.