Legal Research: A Practitioner's Handbook 3rd ed

Legal Research: A Practitioner’s Handbook provides practical advice on every aspect of effective legal research: problem analysis, selecting and finding the best sources, and presenting results effectively. This third edition has been thoroughly updated, taking into account the increasing popularity of commercial databases aimed at UK law practitioners; the overhaul of a number of government and other official sites (national and international); and significant changes to directions by UK courts relating to the conduct and presentation of legal research. New material on the use of social media in legal research, business information and making use of a law firm’s internal precedents has also been added.

Part A covers problem identification and analysis, followed by advice on how to select the best sources and formats (paper or electronic) for research. Part B deals with the information most frequently sought by practitioners, listing sources with analytical comments and, for a selection of the most complex, ‘how to use’ instructions developed to a standard template. Jurisdictional coverage includes England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the European Union, with the addition of information on key sources in European human rights and international law. Part C details sources on how to make the presentation of the results of legal research more effective. These three parts are supplemented by Part D, which describes in non-technical language how a practitioner might get the best value for money when buying information, whether print or online, from commercial law publishers. Extensive appendices provide indexes to abbreviations for Acts, journals and law reports; a glossary of technical terms used in legal research; a summary of the practice directions, statements and decisions of the UK courts relating to legal research; a table of guidance on how to devise more effective searches on the four most popular commercial databases; and a popular names index for legislation and cases relating to the UK and the EU.

Contents:List of Figures and TablesIntroductionAcknowledgements
PART A - BEFORE TOUCHING A KEYBOARD OR OPENING A BOOK …1. WHERE TO START THE RESEARCHPreparing to undertake researchAnalysing the problemDeriving keywords2. WHICH SOURCES TO USEClassifying the types of information neededChoosing the best source: print or electronic?Which sources should I search first?3. HOW TO CHOOSE THE SOURCESAsking fundamental questions about a sourceBe ‘streetwise’ about using the internet
PART B -SELECTING THE RIGHT SOURCE AND USING IT EFFECTIVELY4. GENERAL LAW ENCYCLOPEDIASIntroductionUnited Kingdom;England and WalesScotlandNorthern IrelandEuropean UnionInternational5. LEGISLATIONIntroductionUnited KingdomWalesScotlandNorthern IrelandEuropean UnionInternational – bilateral treatiesInternational – multilateral treaties (including Council of Europe)UK Treaties and agreements6. CASE LAWIntroductionEngland and WalesScotlandNorthern IrelandEuropean UnionEuropean Court of Human RightsInternational7. PROCEDURAL LAWCriminal procedureCivil procedure8. STANDARD FORMS AND PRECEDENTSExternalInternal9. WORDS AND PHRASESIntroductionEngland and WalesScotlandNorthern IrelandEuropean UnionInternational10. UPDATING KNOWN LAWIntroductionUnited KingdomEngland and WalesWalesScotlandNorthern IrelandEuropean UnionCouncil of EuropeInternational11. COMMENTARY ON THE LAWIntroductionCross-jurisdictionalUnited KingdomEuropean UnionEuropean human rightsInternationalHow to cite books and journal articlesCommentary via blogs and twitter12. PRE-LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALSUnited KingdomEuropean UnionEuropean human rightsInternational13. OTHER OFFICIAL INFORMATIONUnited KingdomEuropean UnionInternational14. WHERE TO FIND LEGAL INFORMATION NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN YOUR FIRM OR CHAMBERSEngland and WalesScotlandNorthern IrelandOther, free sourcesThree charged-for services15. BUSINESS INFORMATIONCompany confirmation statements and accountsCompany annual reportsFilings by listed companies: offer documents, prospectuses and shareholders’ circularsCompany news, market news and dealsCredit worthinessAnalyst reports and researchShare pricesInterest ratesBusiness newsCompany directoriesInformation on individuals16. INFORMATION ABOUT PEOPLE AND PERSONALITIES CONNNECTED WITH THE LAWCentral governmentPublic bodiesCourtsLaw firmsLaw librarie;sLegal professionals and their societiesExpert witnesses17. PORTALS, GATEWAYS AND MOREPortal websitesSearchable subject gatewayOverseas domestic lawInternational and comparative law
PART C - PRESENTING THE RESULTS EFFECTIVELY18. WRITING TO IMPRESSWhat this chapter is aboutAdvice on good writing skillsStyle manualsStyle manuals for legal citations
PART D - HOW TO GET THE BEST DEAL FROM COMMERCIAL LAW PUBLISHERS19. BUYING LEGAL INFORMATIONIntroductionWhich are the main commercial publishers?How to buy information in print formatChallenges and pitfalls of buying online informationHints and tips when negotiating with online law information providers
APPENDICES1. Lists of AbbreviationsAbbreviations for ActsAbbreviations for PublicationsAbbreviations for Textual Devices2. What Does this Technical Term Mean?3. Court Directions Relating to Legal Research4. Using Databases Better5. Popular Names Index to UK Cases and EU Legislation and Cases
Subject IndexIndex of Published MaterialsIndex to Databases and Organisations