Warning

Info

Warning

Info

Warning

Info

LSDefine

Simple English definitions for legal terms

legal research

Read a random definition: lawful arrest

A quick definition of legal research:

Legal research is the process of finding information that can help solve a legal problem. There are two types of information: primary and secondary. Primary information includes laws and court decisions that are binding. Secondary information includes explanations of the law that are not binding. There are many resources available to find legal information, such as books, articles, and online databases. These resources can be searched using tools like indexes and search engines. Legal research is important for lawyers and law students to understand the law and help their clients.

A more thorough explanation:

Legal research is the process of finding "authority" that can help solve a legal problem. This authority can be primary or secondary. Primary authority includes rules of law that are binding on courts, government, and individuals, such as statutes, regulations, court orders, and court decisions. Secondary authority includes commentaries on the law that do not have a binding effect but help explain what the law is or should be.

  • Statutes
  • Regulations
  • Court orders
  • Court decisions
  • Legal encyclopedias
  • Treatises
  • American Law Reports (ALR)
  • Law reviews
  • Legal periodical articles
  • Restatements

For example, if a lawyer needs to find out what the law says about a particular issue, they might start by looking at the relevant statutes and regulations. They might also consult legal encyclopedias, treatises, and ALR to get a better understanding of the law. Law reviews and legal periodical articles can provide interpretation of the law as well as detailed articles on particular legal topics. Restatements provide detailed summaries of what the law generally is or what the restatement writers believe the law should be.

Finding tools are resources that help researchers find and interpret legal authority. Some examples of finding tools include:

  • Index to Legal Periodicals
  • Case reporters
  • Case digests
  • Popular name tables
  • Conversion tables
  • Shepard's Citations
  • LEXIS and WESTLAW

For example, case reporters contain the decisions in cases that have been deemed important enough to publish. Case digests enable a researcher to look up a particular area of the law and find a list of case decisions that are "reported" in relevant case reporters. Popular name tables can provide a quick reference to where a law can be found in the statute compilation. Conversion tables allow one to link a statute to the bill from which it developed and the commentary surrounding its approval. Shepard's Citations provides references to when cases and law review articles were cited by another source.

Computer databanks have also provided the legal profession with quick and efficient tools to do research. LEXIS and WESTLAW, two prominent legal search engines, provide databases that have case reporters, statutes, legal periodicals, law reviews, and various secondary authorities. State and specialty law collections pulling together diverse types of authority are now appearing on CD-ROM and the Internet.

legal realism | legal risk placement

Warning

Info

General

General chat about the legal profession.
main_chatroom
👍 Chat vibe: 0 👎
Help us make LSD better!
Tell us what's important to you
ParallelAgreeableOrangutan
23:21
I don't visit y'all's profiles enough, clearly
NarrowFaithfulCougar
0:22
@NemoPropheta: Ahh yeah, the Sauna. That's some good Nordic shit. Beats the hot tub hands down. Plus everyone is naked.
llama
1:23
@ParallelAgreeableOrangutan: got that weaponized autism in gear, we out here.
RasheedWallaceFan
12:52
@llama: your cycle confuses me, your stats are good and you applied early but all of those Rs? Is there anything weird about your app?
RasheedWallaceFan
12:53
do you have C&F issues or something?
RasheedWallaceFan
12:55
also ur first choice is kansas but you didnt apply there?
llama
12:55
@RasheedWallaceFan: Hi. Yes, I waited for April LSAT, put almost all apps (which were sent really early) so that basically most of my apps were reviewed In May. Shot myself in the foot for 155 -> 161 lmao. Would not recommend 10/10
llama
12:57
@RasheedWallaceFan: unironically, KSLS was my top choice, however by April LSAT their app had closed. It was like waiting to date ur dream partner, but waiting until you graduate uni, then by the time u graduate uni, your soul mate is already married with 2.4 kids and 1.6 dogs. Heartbreak.exe fr fr
NemoPropheta
12:58
are you R&Ring?
llama
13:00
No, I think what I will do is flip a coin: heds NKU, tails NEL|B what u guys think bout dat. Then once 1L - if good at LS, try to transfer, if bad at LS or one of my grandiose ideas/inventions are viable, drop out and pursue.
RasheedWallaceFan
13:10
oh so you submitted the apps with a lower lsat and then retook
RasheedWallaceFan
13:10
got it
Bettercaulsaul
13:33
Most schools will hold your application for the next test score to be released into your account as well. I was notified by an admissions director that if a decision is processed they will not retroactively go back for the new score even if higher
ParallelAgreeableOrangutan
13:34
I vote NEL-Boston so we can be friends :D
ParallelAgreeableOrangutan
13:34
But it says you withdrew?? :(
ParallelAgreeableOrangutan
13:41
@Bettercaulsaul: in my experience, there is often an option on the application for you to choose whether you'd like them to review your application as-is ASAP or hold it until your new score is released. but it probably varies by school—I just remember seeing that option on at least a few app forms
llama
2:21
While I am unsure of what option you are referring to, I personally just emailed each school and asked for them to hold my app pending my lsat score release.
llama
2:22
Sorry WNE = Western New England not NEL|B
LawCarrot
14:50
Hey guys is anyone online rn
LawCarrot
14:51
I need adviceee
llama
15:48
shooooot
Mitchthemeanguy
17:45
hey y'all so im gonna be honest im completely new to all this, i kinda bullshitted and took the LSAT and i have no clue what my odds are of getting into schools. 163 LSAT, 3.17 GPA, and a double major in undergrad i may write about in an addendum
InnateMatureRhino
17:50
Based on the list I see you made on your profile, you will need to make significant LSAT improvement for those schools to be contenders. Your primary focus should probably be working to get your LSAT practice tests up to a number you are happy with before you retest, and then test until you get a score you like. Don't rush an application cycle or apply late since those will hurt your odds of getting into your school as a splitter. Good luck!
Mitchthemeanguy
17:51
oh that was literally just random stuff i dont know how this works
Mitchthemeanguy
17:51
thank you so much!
Mitchthemeanguy
17:52
im retaking in 4 days, and maybe again in august, and i was gonna apply to see what i got, and if i didnt like it i was going to wait till next cycle and work on improving my GPA
PremiumFrequentCrane
21:33
@InnateMatureRhino: wow rude
RitzySkillfulLeopard
23:43
yall need help fr
sniper
0:51
chat should i go to uc davis or loyola
TheOrangeGorillla
1:58
https://www.lsd.law/users/creep/UnsuitableExoticTiger Is this real chat?
LSD+ is ad-free, with DMs, discounts, case briefs & more.