Basic legal research : tools and strategies

Now in its Fourth Edition, this respected and widely used text continues to offer complete coverage of Basic Legal Research in a succinct and student-friendly format. Written and presented with logic and clarity, Basic Legal Research: Tools and Strategies, features: Clear, step-by-step instruction covering the basics of legal research A building-block approach that breaks the material into discrete and comprehensible parts Self-contained chapters on research sources that make the book adaptable to any type of legal research course Comprehensive coverage of electronic research that permits as much or little coverage of this topic as one could want End-of-chapter checklists, numerous examples, and summary charts that aid in understanding, retention, and review Samples of pages and references to research sources throughout the book The Fourth Edition offers: Completely current coverage of research materials, including their features and their use New and updated pages and screen shots from online research sources An online version of the book through www.TeachingLaw.com, Aspen Publishers' electronic coursebook platform, with interactive exercises and class assessment reports (Visit www.TeachingLaw.com for more details.) Book jacket.

• Preface p. xv
• Acknowledgments p. xix
• 1 Introduction to Legal Research p. 1
• A Introduction to the legal system p. 2
• B Introduction to the process of legal research p. 9
• C Overview of print and electronic search strategies p. 12
• D Introduction to legal citation p. 15
• E Overview of this text p. 22
• 2 Generating Search Terms p. 25
• A Generating search terms based on categories of information p. 25
• B Expanding the initial search p. 27
• 3 Secondary Source Research p. 29
• A Introduction to secondary sources p. 29
• B Researching secondary sources in print p. 31
• C Researching secondary sources electronically p. 50
• D Citing secondary sources p. 53
• E Sample pages for print secondary source research p. 59
• F Checklist for secondary source research p. 74
• 4 Case Research p. 77
• A Introduction to cases p. 77
• B Researching cases in print p. 84
• C Researching cases electronically p. 99
• D Citing cases p. 105
• E Sample pages for researching cases using a print digest p. 108
• F Checklist for case research p. 126
• 5 Research with Citators p. 129
• A Introduction to citators p. 129
• B Using Shepard's in LexisNexis for case research p. 132
• C Using KeyCite in Westlaw for case research p. 140
• D Using Shepard's Citations in print for case research p. 145
• E Sample pages for case research with Shepard's and Keycite p. 148
• F Checklist for case research with citators p. 155
• 6 Statutory Research p. 157
• A Introduction to statutory law p. 157
• B Researching statutes in print p. 163
• C Researching statutes electronically p. 174
• D Citing statutes p. 184
• E Sample pages for print statutory research p. 186
• F Checklist for statutory research p. 198
• 7 Federal Legislative History Research p. 199
• A Introduction to federal legislative history p. 199
• B Researching federal legislative history in print p. 206
• C Researching federal legislative history electronically p. 214
• D Citing federal legislative history p. 222
• E Sample pages for federal legislative history research p. 224
• F Checklist for federal legislative history research p. 233
• 8 Federal Administrative Law Research p. 237
• A Introduction to federal administrative law p. 237
• B Researching federal regulations in print p. 242
• C Researching federal regulations electronically p. 244
• D Citing federal regulations p. 252
• E Sample pages for federal administrative law research p. 252
• F Checklist for federal administrative law research p. 257
• 9 Subject-Matter Service Research p. 259
• A Introduction to subject-matter services p. 259
• B Researching subject-matter services in print, CD-ROM, and Internet formats p. 261
• C Subject-matter research in LexisNexis and Westlaw p. 262
• D Citing subject-matter services p. 263
• E Sample pages for subject-matter service research p. 264
• F Checklist for subject-matter service research p. 268
• 10 Electronic Legal Research p. 269
• A Introduction to electronic legal research p. 270
• B Conducting effective electronic legal research p. 275
• C Additional electronic research resources p. 292
• D Citing authority obtained from electronic legal research services p. 296
• E Sample pages for electronic legal research p. 299
• F Checklist for electronic legal research p. 303
• 11 Developing a Research plan p. 305
• A Introduction to research planning p. 305
• B Creating a research plan p. 305
• C Finding help p. 318
• D Sample research plans p. 320
• E Research checklists p. 325
• Appendix A Selected Internet Research Resources p. 333
• Index p. 339