Legal Research

In this lesson, you will learn about the two types of primary law, the meaning of precedent, and how to read an opinion. Introduction to Case Law Transcript The two types of primary legal sources are statutes and appellate opinions or case law. Primary sources tell the judge what the law is and provide authority […]

In this lesson, you will learn how to find appellate opinions, the use of keywords in your research, and the operators that help narrow your search results.  Finding Appellate Opinions (Case Law) Transcript You can find case law by searching jurisdiction, case name, case citation, or other criteria, like date. To start, gather your keywords.

In this lesson, you will learn to identify primary sources, secondary sources, and ways the court views each of them. Using Appellate Opinions Transcript You don\’t have to read an entire case to decide whether it\’s relevant. Skim the facts first, and select cases that are similar to your own set of facts. If you\’re

In this lesson, you will learn about state and federal laws, regulations, constitutions, and statutes. Resources for Federal and State Statutes, Codes, and Rules Transcript This section will focus on state and federal laws. Federal laws include the U.S. constitution, federal codes, statutes, and federal regulations. State laws include constitutions, codes, statutes, and rules, each

In this lesson, you will review a search checklist, learn to use a legal research tool, and analyze the search results. Analyzing results Transcript Legal searching and analysis is a winnowing down and back and forth process. The two are done in tandem. The process is to first determine where to search, then find statutes

In this lesson, you will learn why secondary sources are useful, specifically dictionaries, encyclopedias, and guides. What are Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, and Guides? Transcript Legal dictionaries, encyclopedias, and guides are secondary sources. Secondary sources can help you understand issues, get background information, and so on, but they are not authoritative or binding on a court. Though

In this lesson, you will learn how to search the Internet during legal research, and how to search legal dictionaries and encyclopedias. Finding Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, and Guides Transcript Two main ways to look for information on the web – searching and browsing – should be familiar to you. To search, you type a keyword into

In this lesson, you will learn about local rules, who develops them, and who must follow them. What are Local Rules? Transcript Local rules are everyday court procedures that facilitate the application of laws within a particular court. They typically apply to all civil cases including general civil, family, foreclosure, juvenile, probate, and so on.

In this lesson, you will learn how to find local rules, where to find them, and the resources most local jurisdictions have available. You’ll also learn step-by-step to read a local rule and understand the content.  Finding, Using, and Citing Local Rules Transcript The best place to find local rules is the website of the

In this lesson, you will learn about local rules, what is included in local rules, relatable examples of real local rules, and when they would apply to the example.  Sample Local Rules Transcript Local rules cover many areas of the law. They get down to the minutiae, the nitty gritty, They\’re about court costs, how