Legal Research and Writing for Paralegals » (5th Edition)

This text leads paralegals step by step through the legal research and writing process. Coverage includes proper citation form and updating/validating legal authorities, including Shepardizing and Key Citing, as well as electronic sources for legal research, including LEXIS, Westlaw, and the Internet. Writing strategies are integrated into each research chapter to demonstrate the link between the two processes. Technology tips, samples of legal writing, and two glossaries are included (one for Internet-related terms). A chapter on legal research on the Internet is new to this edition. There is also new coverage on the use of the ALWD Citation Manual. The author is affiliated with Georgetown University.

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Section I. Legal Research: Primary Authorities

Chapter 1. Finding the Law
Chapter 2. The Federal and State Court Systems
Chapter 3. Statutory Law
Chapter 4. Case Law and Judicial Opinions
Chapter 5. The Use of Digests, Annotated Law Reports, and Words and Phrases

Section II. Legal Research: Secondary Authorities and Other Research Aids

Chapter 6. Encyclopedias, Periodicals, Treatises, and Restatements
Chapter 7. Miscellaneous Secondary Authorities
Chapter 8. Legal Citation Form
Chapter 9. Updating and Validating Your Research
Chapter 10. Special Research Issues
Chapter 11. New Technology in Legal Research
Chapter 12. Legal Research Using the Internet
Chapter 13. Overview of the Research Process

Section III. Legal Writing

Chapter 14. Back to Basics
Chapter 15. Strategies for Effective Writing
Chapter 16. Legal Correspondence
Chapter 17. Legal Memoranda
Chapter 18. Legal Briefs
Chapter 19. Postwriting Steps

Appendix A. Sample Legal Memorandum
Appendix B. Sample Brief for Court
Appendix C. Sample Appellate Brief
Appendix D. Sample Table of Authorities