How To Conduct Legal Research: Tips For Finding And Analyzing Relevant Case Law And Statutes


Legal research services can be highly profitable for lawyers. Many attorneys rely on these services to help them prepare for cases and stay up-to-date with the latest legal developments. However, conducting legal research is not always an easy task. It requires a certain level of expertise and knowledge to navigate through complex legal data and find relevant information.

For lawyers who prefer to have their legal research done for them, there are a number of legal research companies that offer these services. These companies employ expert legal researchers who have extensive experience in conducting research in various areas of law. They use their expertise to quickly and efficiently find the information that lawyers need.

Steps to Conduct Rocking Legal Research

7 Steps to Conduct Rocking Legal Research

However, for lawyers who prefer to conduct their own legal research, there are a number of steps that they can follow to ensure that their research is thorough and effective. The following are seven steps to conduct rocking legal research:

  1. Define your research question: Before you even start researching, you need to have a clear idea of what you are trying to find out. Make sure that your research question is specific, relevant, and realistic.
  2. Identify your sources: Once you have defined your research question, you need to identify the sources that you will use to find the information that you need. Some sources to consider include primary sources (such as statutes, regulations, and case law) and secondary sources (such as legal treatises, law review articles, and practice guides).
  3. Search your sources: Once you have identified your sources, you need to search them to find the information that you need. Be sure to use advanced search techniques (such as Boolean searching) to help you find relevant information more quickly.
  4. Assess the relevance of the information: Before you use the information that you have found, you need to assess its relevance to your research question. Determine whether it is reliable, up-to-date, and pertinent to your topic.
  5. Organize your research: As you find relevant information, it is important to organize it in a way that makes sense. Create an outline or summary of your findings to help you understand the information that you have gathered.
  6. Analyze your findings: Once you have organized your research, you need to analyze your findings to draw conclusions and answer your research question. Be sure to critically evaluate the information that you have found and consider how it applies to your overall research question.
  7. Cite your sources: Finally, be sure to properly cite your sources to avoid plagiarism and demonstrate the reliability of your research.

Using Legal Research Services

LegalResearchTipsfortheDIYClient

While conducting your own legal research can be rewarding, there are also benefits to using legal research services. These services can save lawyers time and money by providing them with access to expert researchers who can quickly find the information that they need. Additionally, legal research services can provide up-to-date information on legal developments, which can be especially beneficial for lawyers who need to stay abreast of changes in the law.

However, when using legal research services, it is important to choose a reputable provider. Look for a company that employs expert legal researchers who have experience in your specific area of law. Additionally, consider factors such as the price of the service, the quality of the research, and the level of customer support that is available.

Writing Law Dissertations

Writing Law Dissertations

In addition to conducting legal research, many lawyers also seek to publish their own legal writing. This can include law review articles, legal treatises, and dissertations. Writing a successful law dissertation requires a significant amount of time and effort, as well as a deep understanding of the legal issues involved.

When writing a law dissertation, it is important to choose a topic that is both interesting and relevant to current legal debates. Conduct thorough research to ensure that you have a comprehensive understanding of your topic and be sure to critically evaluate the information that you find.

Additionally, be sure to follow proper citation practices and formatting guidelines. Consult a style guide (such as the Bluebook) to ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and professional.

In conclusion, legal research services can be highly beneficial for lawyers who need to stay up-to-date with legal developments and access expert research. Additionally, lawyers who seek to conduct their own research can benefit from following best practices to ensure that their research is thorough and effective. Finally, lawyers who seek to publish their own legal writing should take the time to conduct thorough research, choose interesting and relevant topics, and follow proper citation and formatting guidelines.


Free How-To Tutorials

Search This Blog