How do you learn how to do this....?

Hi,

How do you learn how to do legal research without having to go to law school?

This is a SERIOUS QUESTION so thanks in advance for any replies.

Best,

- Boyd

I can think of several ways -- one is to be an assistant in an attorney's office. I think there are also certification courses for legal assistants.

You can find a number of books at your library or through interlibrary loan about being a legal assistant.

If it's independant research you want to do (researching because someone has dropped a civil case on someone you know) then everything you will need to know is in any law library (try a university). To find out references for a case (and there's undoubtedly easier ways...this is the only one I know of) look up similar cases (pick some that are 6 years old or so) in the newspaper and then find the original documents. The arguments MAY reference specific laws and other cases pertaining to the material in question.

...and you can always ask the librarian at the law library for help.

[side note: research in the legal field can be more complex than in the scientific field because issues can be overturned on fine points of a case. They aren't repealing the law of gravity any time soon based on various findings -- if you know what I mean. I've only researched for one case (personal interest) so here endeth any advice I can give. I'm not a lawyer and don't work in the legal field.]


The Five Minute Mentor

> Hi,

> How do you learn how to do legal research
> without having to go to law school?

You could start with this website for laymen:
http://www.nolo.com

And also to learn more about the available
resources online for legal research check
out the legal section of http://www.refdesk.com
which is the link below:

http://www.refdesk.com/lawsrch.html

dno
> Hi,

> How do you learn how to do legal research
> without having to go to law school?

> This is a SERIOUS QUESTION so thanks in
> advance for any replies.

> Best,

> - Boyd

Hi, Boyd...long time since I talked to you...the
best books on do-it-yourself legal stuff is
Mike Brown's site, link below. I don't know how
much you know about the subject. If nothing, get
his how to sue book. Its clear, concise and even
motivating. Unfortunatley, most of the people who
give me grief have no money, no assets, etc. so
its usually not worth it...sad to say! :(

> Hi,

> How do you learn how to do legal research
> without having to go to law school?

> This is a SERIOUS QUESTION so thanks in
> advance for any replies.

> Best,

> - Boyd




Best Legal Stuff on the Net

dno
> Hi, Boyd...long time since I talked to
> you...the
> best books on do-it-yourself legal stuff is
> Mike Brown's site, link below. I don't know
> how
> much you know about the subject. If nothing,
> get
> his how to sue book. Its clear, concise and
> even
> motivating. Unfortunatley, most of the
> people who
> give me grief have no money, no assets, etc.
> so
> its usually not worth it...sad to say! :(