Legal Research, Analysis and Writing » (2nd Edition)

William Putman received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law and has been a member of the New Mexico Bar since 1975. For ten years he was an instructor in the Legal Assistant Studies Program at Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the Paralegal Studies Program at Santa Fe Community College, in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

The practical approach of the second edition of Legal Research , Analysis and Writing, provides the foundation of material that meets the challenge Paralegals and law clerks face when called upon to perform substantive legal research, analysis, and writing tasks. Numerous examples, exercises, and online resources are included.

PART I: INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH, ANALYTICAL PRINCIPLES, AND THE LEGAL PROCESS. 1: Introduction to Legal Principles and Authorities. 2: Introduction to Legal Research and Analysis.
Part II: LEGAL RESEARCH. 3: Constitutions, Statutes, Administrative Law, and Court Rules—Research and Analysis. 4: Case Law—Research and Briefing. 5: Secondary Authority and Other Research Sources—Encyclopedias, Treatises, American Law Reports, Digests, Shepard's. 6: Secondary Authority— Periodicals, Restatements, Uniform Laws, Dictionaries, Legislative History, and Other Secondary Authorities. 7: Computers and Legal Research. 8: Legal Citation.
Part III: THE SPECIFICS OF LEGAL ANALYSIS. 9: Legal Analysis—Key Facts. 10: Legal Analysis—Issue Identification—Spotting the Issue. 11: Legal Analysis—Stating the Issue. 12: Case Law Analysis—Is a Case on Point? 13: Counteranalysis.
Part IV: LEGAL WRITING. 14: Fundamentals of Writing. 15: The Writing Process for Effective Legal Writing. 16: Office Legal Memorandum: Issues and Facts. 17: Office Legal Memorandum: Analysis to Conclusion. 18: External Memoranda: Court Briefs. 19: Correspondence.

Appendix A: Court Opinions Referred to in the Text.

Appendix B: Appellate Court Brief.

Appendix C: Web Sites. Glossary.
Index.