Legal research is very important for writing in law school. It helps you find and understand a lot of information. To do well in legal research, there are several helpful tools and resources you can use. Here are some of the main ones:
These are great places to find legal information. Some popular ones are:
Westlaw: This tool is very detailed and gives you access to court cases, laws, rules, and helpful articles. You can use special search methods to get exactly what you need.
LexisNexis: This is like Westlaw and has a lot of legal materials, including news articles and business info. It’s especially useful if you’re looking into business law.
Bloomberg Law: This combines legal research with business and financial information. It’s great for understanding how legal issues can affect the economy.
Don't forget about the traditional law library. Here, you can find:
Reference Materials: These libraries often have encyclopedias, guides, and books that can help with legal research.
Research Help: Librarians are there to assist you in finding both physical and online legal resources.
For laws and regulations, government websites are very helpful:
Congress.gov: This site shows the full text of bills and any actions taken on them.
State Legislature Websites: Each state has its own online resources where you can view local laws and rules.
Scholarly articles can give you a deeper understanding of legal ideas and recent changes. Some important ones are:
These journals share new research and can help you grasp difficult legal concepts.
Books and online guides about legal writing are very useful. Some examples include:
“A Lawyer Writes: A Practical Guide to Legal Analysis”: This book offers advice on how to write clear legal arguments.
Online platforms: Websites like the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) provide tips and examples for writing in legal contexts.
To sum up, using a mix of legal databases, law libraries, government websites, academic journals, and writing guides can greatly improve your legal research skills. This approach gives you a strong base for your legal writing, making sure your arguments are well-grounded in reliable information. By getting familiar with these tools, you can make your research easier and enhance the quality of your writing, paving the way for success in your law studies.
Legal research is very important for writing in law school. It helps you find and understand a lot of information. To do well in legal research, there are several helpful tools and resources you can use. Here are some of the main ones:
These are great places to find legal information. Some popular ones are:
Westlaw: This tool is very detailed and gives you access to court cases, laws, rules, and helpful articles. You can use special search methods to get exactly what you need.
LexisNexis: This is like Westlaw and has a lot of legal materials, including news articles and business info. It’s especially useful if you’re looking into business law.
Bloomberg Law: This combines legal research with business and financial information. It’s great for understanding how legal issues can affect the economy.
Don't forget about the traditional law library. Here, you can find:
Reference Materials: These libraries often have encyclopedias, guides, and books that can help with legal research.
Research Help: Librarians are there to assist you in finding both physical and online legal resources.
For laws and regulations, government websites are very helpful:
Congress.gov: This site shows the full text of bills and any actions taken on them.
State Legislature Websites: Each state has its own online resources where you can view local laws and rules.
Scholarly articles can give you a deeper understanding of legal ideas and recent changes. Some important ones are:
These journals share new research and can help you grasp difficult legal concepts.
Books and online guides about legal writing are very useful. Some examples include:
“A Lawyer Writes: A Practical Guide to Legal Analysis”: This book offers advice on how to write clear legal arguments.
Online platforms: Websites like the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) provide tips and examples for writing in legal contexts.
To sum up, using a mix of legal databases, law libraries, government websites, academic journals, and writing guides can greatly improve your legal research skills. This approach gives you a strong base for your legal writing, making sure your arguments are well-grounded in reliable information. By getting familiar with these tools, you can make your research easier and enhance the quality of your writing, paving the way for success in your law studies.