what legal research is online for attorney offices

Casemaker is a lower-cost legal research tool with a giant database of state and federal case law and statutes, and a top-notch citator tool. Review of Casemaker Casetext 4.7/5 Based on 2 ratings Our review of Casetext finds an online legal research tool for small to medium-sized law firms, backed by cutting edge technology.

Full Answer

Where can I do legal research for free?

Legal Research. Below is a select list of free legal research sites available on the Internet: California Court Rules, organized by category, with a link to local county rules. California Judicial Council forms. Internet resources by subject area, with links researched by law librarians. Civil jury instructions, for public and internal court use.

What is the best online legal research software for law firms?

Legal Research & Writing Services for Attorneys. The Nation's Oldest and Largest Legal Research Firm: The National Legal Research Group founded the legal research industry in 1969 to provide research, writing and substantive expertise to all attorneys--solo practitioners, corporate counsel, large firms, and counsel for municipal, state and federal government.

How can I do legal research remotely?

Legal research forms the basis on which an attorney formulates or arrives at a Legal opinion or advice. Legal research is what supports the legal decision making. It is in other words the process wherein the issue is identified, the regulations governing the issue is researched upon, relevant case laws are referred to, and current status of law ...

How can I make sure my legal research is comprehensive?

Feb 15, 2017 · The U.S. legal system is based on precedent -- that is, decided court cases -- in conjunction with statutes and common law. Therefore, the function of legal research typically is to find out how previous courts have decided cases with similar fact patterns. Most legal research is now performed online. For example, FindLaw's sister company, Thomson Reuters …

What is the best legal research site?

7 Free legal search engines and databases. ... Fastcase: For an online law library. ... CourtListener: For legal opinions. ... Caselaw Access Project: For book-published case law. ... FindLaw: For searchable Supreme Court decisions. ... Legal Information Institute: For US law online and a legal encyclopedia. ... Casetext and ROSS: For AI assistance.More items...•Mar 24, 2022

What research do lawyers use?

Over half of the surveyed attorneys said they use free online sources to research case dockets, corporations/companies, judges, lawyers, public records, state legislation/statutes, general news, and legal news. In other words, they use free resources to look up topics that are easily and publicly accessible.Apr 6, 2016

What is online legal research?

Online Legal Research Advances Key to the Practice of Law. Legal research requires identifying and analyzing fact-based precedent to handle a legal task with authority and confidence. With the right facts and circumstances, practitioners can prove or disprove a client's position on a particular issue.Sep 22, 2021

What online resources do lawyers use?

7 Online Resources for Lawyers, Legal Teams, and In-house CounselAbove the Law. Above the Law is a legal website that goes behind-the-scenes to provide a new perspective on the world of law. ... Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) ... Corporate Counsel Business Journal. ... General Counsel News. ... Lexology.Dec 5, 2019

What are the 5 stages of legal research?

Five Steps of Legal ResearchFormulate a Research Plan.Consult Secondary Sources.Consult Primary Sources. ( a) Expand Primary Law, and (b) Update Primary Law.Analyze & Organize Results.Apr 27, 2021

What is a legal research tool?

Legal research software provides tools for lawyers to study statutes, case laws, and specific legal practice areas.

What is Lexis Web?

Lexis Web is a legal search engine provided by online information provider LexisNexis. The search engine enables keyword searching of a selection of handpicked, freely available, full text legal resources along with additional subscription content for LexisNexis subscribers.Feb 8, 2019

What questions should you ask yourself before going online to perform legal research?

How to do legal research in 3 stepsKey questions to ask yourself when starting legal research. ... What are the facts? ... What is the actual legal issue? ... What is the relevant jurisdiction? ... Where to start legal research: the library or online?

How do you do online legal research without spending a dime?

Free Legal Research Systems: Casemaker4 and Fastcase7 Some bar associations, such as Texas, even offer members a free subscription to both. So, if you are a member of your state bar association you already have a subscription, without spending a dime on it.Apr 14, 2020

How would you use a different search engine for online legal research?

You can use a variety of different search engines to help you begin your research, including: Google....Use the "advanced results" option. Some search engines, including Google, offer an advanced results option. ... Use another language. ... Specify the date. ... Specify the file format. ... Specify type of site.

Do you have to pay for LexisNexis?

You pay one price and get everything. LexisNexis will charge an additional $25/month administrative fee and charge per-use fees if you go out of plan that can add up to thousands of dollars. Term: With Casetext, you can subscribe either annually or month-to-month (for $89 a month).Apr 25, 2019

How do search engines use online legal research?

A researcher can access legal materials by going to the main Google Scholar web page. There is a radio button just below the search entry box that selects legal materials. Enter key words or phrases, and a jurisdiction and Google will display relevant results that link to the full text of the opinion.Aug 2, 2021

Appellate Briefs

Our highly skilled staff of attorneys, proofreaders, cite checkers and production personnel have detailed knowledge of appellate rules and procedures to ensure compliance and acceptance.

Trial Briefs

NLRG attorneys not only have substantive expertise in nearly every area of law, but are also highly skilled legal writers. Our experience preparing briefs in every state and federal court provides our attorney-clients with the competitve edge to prevail at trial.

Legal Memoranda

Our skilled attorneys provide objective legal memoranda for case evaluation, trial and appellate preparation, strategic planning or any other purpose prior to or in support of litigation or transactional analysis.

Telephone or Email Reports

Cost-effective telephone or email reports give you access to the substantive and legal research expertise of our attorneys for expert analysis of legal issues when a written product is not required.

Pleadings and Motions

Since 1969, our attorneys have assisted our attorney- clients with pleadings in every state and federal court with the preparation or review of pleadings.

Computer-Assisted and Electronic Research

Our attorneys are thoroughly trained and highly skilled in Westlaw®, Lexis® and other cutting edge research tools to provide our attorney- clients with the most comprehensive and efficient legal research on any issue.

Legal Document Review

Our experienced attorneys can simplify and streamline the document review process at any stage of litigation. We help our clients maximize their value and leverage their time to:

What is legal research?

Legal research is generally the process of finding an answer to a legal question or checking for legal precedent that can be cited in a brief or at trial. Sometimes, legal research can help determine whether a legal issue is a "case of first impression" that is unregulated or lacks legal precedent. Virtually every lawsuit, appeal, criminal case, ...

What is an opinion in a court case?

Terms to Know. Opinion: The formal written expression by a court or judge detailing the reasons and principles of law upon which the case is decided. Parallel Citation: A citation reference to the same case printed in two or more different case reporters.

Do judges write opinions?

Judges often write opinions that aren't exactly easy for non-lawyers to follow. Lawmakers do the same with statutes. If you're researching a legal topic and you've hit a wall, it may be in your best interests to speak with an attorney.

How to use Casemaker?

Casemaker’s easy-to-use, intuitive interface helps you search and browse the entire library to quickly and efficiently complete your research. A few of the many features that you will enjoy in Casemaker include: 1 Simple, advanced, and Boolean searching 2 Browse - when you know what you are looking for or just want to read surrounding sections. 3 Easy navigation between search and browse 4 Archives – Statutes & Legislative Acts 5 Data updated daily to keep you current 6 Research management tools to organize your work and track by client 7 Ability to add your own notes to any document 8 Extensive cross linking and editorial features 9 Multiple print and download formats

What is a casemaker?

The Casemaker library includes state and federal cases, statutes, court rules and administrative codes and much more. Casemaker’s easy-to-use, intuitive interface helps you search and browse the entire library to quickly and efficiently complete your research.

What is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline offers small law firm members access to the Federal Register Library, Treaties and Agreements Library, U.S. Attorney General Opinions Library, U.S. Federal Legislative Histories Library, U.S. Presidential Library, and the U.S. Statutes at Large Library. HeinOnline is Free to City Bar members in firms with fewer than 25 attorneys!

What is secondary authority?

By definition, secondary authorities are not legally binding, but they offer supplementary value by helping to explain the ramifications of specific laws that might pertain to a given case. They may also point attorneys toward a primary authority that can help make their case.

Who is Alison Warroom?

Alison is a Senior Legal Consultant with Digital WarRoom. Alison has over 30 years experience in the legal field including working as a law clerk for a Pennsylvania judge, a law firm associate attorney, and Senior Legal Research Attorney. Outside of work, Alison enjoys spending time with her children, reading, crochet, and advocating for the rights of the developmentally disabled.

What is legal research?

Legal research—that is, identifying, finding, and cite-checking the information and applicable laws needed to support your legal decision-making— empowers your arguments and gives substance to your legal work.

What is the key step in legal research?

Another key step to legal research is verifying that any cases you come across in your legal research are still “good” law—that is, that any legal decision you’re looking to is still valid and relevant. Using an overruled or unconstitutional statute won’t help you win your case.

What are the primary sources of legal research?

Primary legal sources are key to legal research because they establish the current law on whatever legal issue you’re working with. Primary sources, which you can find by searching legal research databases like Fastcase or Casetext, include: Federal and state constitutions.

What is secondary legal source?

Secondary sources. Secondary legal sources explain or interpret legal principles in detail, or summarize the current state of the law—giving a better understanding of a particular area of law . Secondary sources are also useful for identifying primary sources for your case (more on that later). Examples include:

What is a casetext?

Casetext can also “help you evaluate whether a case is good law and find other relevant cases citing that opinion.”.

What is the definition of a statute?

Statutes or legislation ( such as laws enacted by legislative bodies like Congress and state legislatures) Treaties. Regulations (such as rules or regulations made by either federal or state agencies) Annotations. Case law (such as court opinions or decisions issued by federal or state courts)

What is legal research?

Essentially, it means that legal research is the process you use to identify and find the laws—including statutes, regulations, and court opinions—that apply to the facts of your case. In most instances, the purpose of legal research is to find support for a specific legal issue or decision. For example, attorneys must conduct legal research ...

What is case law?

Case law, which are court opinions/decisions issued by federal or state courts. Statutes, including legislation passed by both the U.S. Congress and state lawmakers. Regulations, including those issued by either federal or state agencies. Constitutions, both federal and state.

What do you need to know before you start looking for a law?

Before you start looking for laws and court opinions, you first need to define the scope of your legal research project. There are several key questions you can use to help do this.

What is a headnote in Westlaw?

For example, in Westlaw, most cases contain headnotes that summarize each of the case's important legal issues. These headnotes are also assigned a Key Number based on the topic associated with that legal issue.

Why do we need secondary sources?

Because secondary sources provide you with a thorough overview of legal topics, meaning you don't have to start your research from scratch. After secondary sources, you can move on to primary sources of law.