Legal reference for librarians : how and where to find the answers

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Where to find it

Information & Library Science Library

Call Number
KF240 .H38 2014
Status
Available

Law Library — Reference Desk (4th floor)

Call Number
KF240 .H38 2014
Status
In-Library Use Only

Authors, etc.

Names:

Summary

In recent years the number of Americans who have decided to handle their own legal affairs without the help of a lawyer has skyrocketed. Ranging from people writing their own wills or drafting a contract to those trying to represent themselves in court, they're going to public and academic libraries for answers. As both an attorney and a librarian, Healy's background makes him uniquely qualified to advise library staff on providing users with the legal information they seek, and in this handbook, heProvides a concise orientation on legal research, including strategies for finding information quickly and a handpicked compendium of the best resourcesOffers guidance on how to provide advice on legal research while steering clear of liabilityCovers federal legal reference as well as all 50 states, with a comprehensive list of web-based legal resourcesLibrary staff can provide valuable and ethical legal reference guidance with the practical guidance in this book.

Contents

  • Preface p. vii
  • Acknowledgments p. ix
  • Part 1 Legal and Ethical Issues
  • 1 Who Is Asking Legal Reference Questions, and Why Does It Matter? p. 3
  • 2 Parameters of Legal Reference Service p. 13
  • 3 Tips and Tools for Serving the Pro Se Library User p. 21
  • Part 2 Legal Research Basics
  • 4 The Structure of Law and the Legal Research Process p. 31
  • 5 Secondary Legal Resources p. 43
  • 6 Statutes and Constitutions p. 53
  • 7 Case Law p. 65
  • 8 Regulations and Administrative Law p. 77
  • Appendix: Online Legal Resources p. 83
  • Index p. 203

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