Legal Research

- legal process of finding the laws, rules and

regulations that govern activities in human
society;
- locating such laws and commentaries
explaining or analyzing such laws;
- investigation for information necessary to
support legal decision making
Need for Legal Research:
- competent representation requires legal
knowledge, skill, thoroughness and
preparation
- requirement of professional responsibility
- in upholding the standards of legal profession,
effective and efficient research plan must
become part and parcel of every lawyer
Sources of Legal Research:
A. rinted !ources"
#. $onstitution
%. !tatutes
&. $ourt 'ecisions
(. Administrative )ules
*. !cholarly commentaries
+. ,lectronic !ources
$omputer 'atabases
Sources of Law / Legal Literature:
A. rimary !ources"
A#. )ecorded laws enforced by the !tate
#a. -egislative Actions
#b. $odes .$ivil $ode/
#c. !tatutes
A%. 0udicial 'ecisions
%a. !upreme $ourt
%b. $ourt of Appeals
%c. )1$, 21$, 2$1$
A&. Administrative -aw 3 quasi 4udicial
+. !econdary 2aterials"
+#. ublications
#a. 1reatises
#b. $ommentaries
#c. encyclopedias
+%. -egal 5ritings
%a. law reviews
%b. 6+ 4ournals
%c. -awyers )eview
$. 7inding 1ools 3 helping locate the legal sources
- a means for locating primary sources
#. 'igests 3 reprint headnotes
%. Annotations 3 summary of cases
&. 86-09)6!, -,: -6+)6!
*** a law student must develop a highly developed
sense of relevance to specific inquiry
SYSTEMATIC APPROAC TO LE!AL
RESEARC " #IR$%
#. 6dentify and analyze the significant facts
.1A)/
#a. 1hing ; sub4ect
#b. cause of action
#c. )elief sought
#d. ersons or parties involved
%. 7ormulate the legal issues
- initial intellectual activity
- knowledge of substantive law
- general issue down to specific
- clear and concise statement
&. )esearch the issues presented
&a. <rganize and plan
&b. 6dentify, )ead and update $onstitution,
statutes, administrative regulations
&c. .6dentify, )ead and update all relevant case
law
****anticipate both sides****
&d. )efine the !earch
(. 9pdate 3 law changes constantly
#$N&AMENTAL RESEARC S'ILL:
CASE (RIE#IN! AN& SYNTESIS O# CASES
$omponents" #. facts
%. issue .s/
&. ruling