There`s a reason there are entire law courses and countless books focused solely on legal research methodology. In fact, many lawyers will spend their entire careers honing their research skills – and even then, they may not have perfected the process. How can legal research help with development or strategy? Black`s Law Dictionary defines legal research as “the research and gathering of authorities related to a legal question.” But what does that really mean? Essentially, this means that legal research is the process you use to identify and find laws, including laws, regulations, and court notices, that apply to the subject matter of your case. Just look at the right track under each court notice. There you will see a thumbnail for `BCITE Analysis` Click on the icon and you will get quick links to the direct story (opinions that influence or are influenced by the outcome of the case in question); Case analysis (citation of cases, with filtering and search options), directory of authorities and citation of documents. So if it`s primary law that you want, it makes sense to look over there first, right? Not so fast. While you need primary sources of law to support your case, in many cases it is much easier – and a more efficient use of your time – to start your research in secondary sources such as how-to guides, articles, and legal articles. What for? Because secondary sources give you a complete overview of legal issues, so you don`t have to start your research from scratch. After secondary sources, you can move on to primary law sources. The easiest way to find out if something is still a good law is to use a legal tool known as a Citator, which will show you subsequent cases where your source has been cited, as well as any negative stories, including whether they have been overturned, overturned, questioned, or simply differentiated. A good opinion is practical, specific, based on legal theory and recommends action. Now that you`ve gathered the facts and know your legal problem, the next step is to know what to look for. After all, you need legislation to support your legal argument, whether you`re giving advice to a client or writing an internal memo, brief, or other legal document.

Legal advice is a formal opinion based on the expertise of professional lawyers. It is a written document, usually written at the request of a client, in which lawyers explain their understanding of the legal provisions relating to the factual circumstances of a particular case. For greater certainty, the party to whom the legal opinion has been submitted in the form of a legal opinion has the right to rely on the advice contained herein. The law does not have a uniform and universal definition of this concept, but the practice of legal advice in common law countries has a long tradition, and clear standards and an advisory law have been developed for the development of qualified legal opinions for various legal situations and disputes. Thus, it can be defined as a written response duly executed by a lawyer to a legal case. Given that legal research is a complex process, it`s probably no surprise that this guide can`t give you everything you need to know. Whether you`re a student still in law school or a seasoned lawyer with years of experience, strong research skills are essential to making a winning argument. That`s why it`s so important to know how to conduct legal research, including where to start and what steps to take. The essential elements of a legal opinion vary and depend on the type of transaction to be examined.

However, there are common elements that are included in many legal opinions. These common elements are: Before writing an application or factum, look for examples of what lawyers at a law firm have filed with the court in similar cases. You can probably find recent examples in your company`s internal document system or browse Bloomberg Law`s routing slips. If possible, look for things filed before the same judge in order to get a quick review of the rules/procedures to follow (and if possible from the same partner so you can get an idea of their style preferences). Always gather the most important facts so you know “who, what, why, when, where and how” of your case. And take the time to write everything down, especially since you`ll probably need to include a statement of facts in any filing or briefing anyway. Even if you don`t think a fact might be relevant now, write it down because it may turn out to be relevant later. These facts will also be helpful in identifying your legal problem. How should I use technology to improve my legal research? If you are looking for experts, you can use logs to determine if the expert has recently been excluded from a case or if their opinion has been limited. If so, it will help you determine if the expert is right for you. The start of your legal research will be different for each assignment. To get started, make sure you understand your goal by asking questions and taking notes carefully.

Ask for general information, logistical questions such as registration deadlines, customer/file number, and billing instructions. As laws change from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, it can be difficult to keep up with every legal evolution. Equally intimidating is the ability to track and obtain information on stakeholder strategies and legal responses. Without quick and easy access to the right tools, the legal research on which the case strategy is based can be confronted with costs, staffing and litigation outcomes. The good news? Bloomberg Law does not charge fees for seeking judicial advice. If your initial search was way too broad or too narrow, you don`t have to worry about performing a new and improved search right away. In most cases, the purpose of legal research is to find support for a particular legal issue or decision.