What are the facts?Īlways gather the key facts so you know the "who, what, why, when, where, and how" of your case. There are several key questions you can use to help do this. Key questions to ask yourself when starting legal researchīefore you start looking for laws and court opinions, you first need to define the scope of your legal research project. But these are just a few of the situations in which legal research is necessary. And in the case of law students, they often use legal research to complete memos and briefs for class. For example, attorneys must conduct legal research if they need court opinions (that is, case law) to back up a legal argument they are making in a motion or brief filed with the court.Īlternatively, lawyers may need legal research to simply provide clients with accurate legal guidance. In most instances, the purpose of legal research is to find support for a specific legal issue or decision.
Step 1: What is legal research, and where do I start?īlack's law dictionary defines legal research as “he finding and assembling of authorities that bear on a question of law." But what does that actually mean? Essentially, it means that legal research is the process you use to identify and find the laws-including statutes, regulations, and court opinions-that apply to the facts of your case.
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This is why it is so important to know how to perform legal research, including where to start and the steps to follow. So, whether you are a student still in law school or a seasoned attorney with years of experience, having solid research skills is crucial to be able to craft a winning argument. But if you already understand the basics of legal research, the process can be significantly easier-not to mention quicker. Knowing where to start a difficult legal research project can be a challenge.
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