Legal research is the act of gathering facts and statistics from various sources to help lawyers prepare their cases. This is done by researching laws, court decisions, and case studies. Legal research helps attorneys understand what they should expect in terms of outcomes and costs. It also helps them identify weaknesses in their opponents' arguments.
Types of Legal Research
1. Legislative Research
Legislative research is the study of legislation and its effect on society. This type of research is done through the analysis of existing laws, their history, and the effects they have had on society.
2. Case Law Research
Case law research involves studying court decisions and legal precedents. This type of research helps lawyers understand what courts consider relevant evidence, and how judges decide cases.
3. Statutory Research
Statutory research is the study of statutes and regulations. This type of research provides insight into the legislative intent behind the creation of laws and regulations.
4. Constitutional Research
Constitutional research is the study of constitutional law. This type of research focuses on the interpretation of the constitution and the role of government.
5. International Research
International research studies the impact of international treaties and agreements. This type of research examines the relationship between countries and the policies they implement.
Tools Lawyers Use to Perform Legal Research
1. Google Scholar
Google Scholar is a great tool to use when researching legal topics. It allows users to search through academic articles, books, and court opinions. This is especially helpful when trying to determine what sources to cite in your research paper.
2. LexisNexis
LexisNexis is a database that contains case law from across the United States. It is often used by attorneys to look up cases related to their clients' cases. LexisNexis is a subscription service that allows users to access thousands of legal documents from around the world. Users can search through hundreds of thousands of cases, statutes, and regulations. They can also sort through the results based on their preferences. This makes it easier to find what you want without having to scroll through pages of irrelevant results.
3. WestlawNext
WestLaw is another great resource for legal research. WestlawNext is a subscription service offered by Thomson Reuters. It provides access to thousands of journals, newspapers, magazines, and encyclopedias. Many students rely on this resource to help them complete their research papers. It provides access to over 100 million cases, statutes, and regulatory materials. Its interface is similar to LexisNexis, but it offers a few additional features. For example, you can save your favorite cases and add notes directly to them. You can also download PDFs of the cases you want to read later.
4. Justia
Justia is a website that offers access to case law from state and federal courts. It is a good place to look for precedent when writing a legal argument.
5. FindLaw
FindLaw is another popular legal research tool. It provides access to a database of over 1 billion cases, which covers everything from criminal to family law. The company also provides several helpful tools to help you organize your research. For example, they offer a keyword tool that helps you identify keywords related to your topic. They also allow you to create alerts when new cases are added to the database.
What Is the Significance of Legal Research
Legal Research is a critical step in any case study. Legal research helps you understand what laws apply to your case and how they may impact your client. Without this knowledge, you could end up losing a case due to ignorance of the law.
The first thing you should do is determine whether the law applies to your case. This means researching the jurisdiction where the case is being filed. Once you have determined the applicable laws, you can then begin to research those laws.
You should always conduct thorough research before making any decisions regarding the law. There are many resources available to help you learn about the law, including the United States Code Annotated, Westlaw, LexisNexis, and Shepard's Citations.
Once you have learned about the law, you can begin to analyze the facts of your case. You should look at the elements of the crime and the defenses that might be used. You should also consider the penalties associated with the charges.
Finally, once you have analyzed the facts and the law, you should decide whether the law applies to the facts of your case and, if so, how it affects your client.
1. Legal Research Helps Lawyers Win Cases
Legal research helps lawyers win cases. This is true whether they are litigating a case in court or writing briefs for their clients. A lawyer needs to understand what the law says, how courts interpret laws, and how judges apply those interpretations. Legal research provides this knowledge.
2. Legal Research Is Essential To Writing Effective Briefs
A brief is a written document submitted to a judge or jury outlining the facts of a case. A good brief should contain enough information to persuade a judge or jury to rule in favor of the party submitting the brief. A lawyer cannot write a persuasive brief without first understanding the law. Therefore, legal research is critical to writing effective briefs.
3. Legal Research Provides Knowledge About Laws And Their Interpretation
When a lawyer writes a brief, he or she does not only explain the facts of a case but also explains the law. When a lawyer understands the law, he or she knows how to argue effectively. However, before a lawyer can argue effectively, he or she must first understand the law. Thus, legal research is necessary to help lawyers learn about the law.
4. Legal Research Gives Lawyers An Edge Over Opposing Counsel
Many lawyers spend hours preparing for oral arguments in court. They study the opposing counsel’s arguments and try to anticipate his or her next move. The best lawyers develop a strategy and then execute it flawlessly. Legal research gives lawyers the edge over their opponents by helping them prepare for oral arguments.
How do Legal Research Services Help Law Firms?
Legal research projects are often complex and time-consuming. They require extensive knowledge of case law, statutes, regulations, precedents, and other sources of information. The task of finding relevant material is even harder when you consider the volume of data available today.
Legal research projects are usually performed by lawyers or paralegals who specialize in researching legal issues. Legal research services allows law firms to save time and resources, allowing them to focus on other aspects of their practice. These services provide a comprehensive range of legal research solutions. It includes primary source research, secondary source research, and expert witness reports.
