Researching and tracing information is an essential skill that students need to master in order to succeed in their legal studies and future careers. This practical guide to effective legal research presents the information in a step-by-step format leading students through the world of legal research both in a law library and researching online

The books in which the law is to be found, and how to use and cite them; common legal abbreviations.

Designed to give a grounding in effective communication, research and problem-solving skills, the Legal Skills series aims to blend theory and practice by encouraging the reader to think through particular problems. Each book provides a theoretical framework for understanding the specific skills, reinforcing this with practical exercises to develop the reader's grasp of how these skills are used.

Laying Down the Law provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the study of law.

The research process -- Researching secondary authority -- Researching constitutions -- Researching statutes and court rules -- Researching legislative history -- Finding cases in reporters and online -- Researching cases in digests and online -- Researching administrative law -- Researching Arizona tribal law -- Updating research

The ability to use a law library is central to any lawyer's effectiveness, yet is often treated as peripheral. This book is designed for the law student and will provide a grounding in legal research which will be useful for lecturers and future employers. It not only describes the tools of the lawyers trade - the literature of law for England and Wales and the European Communities - but also the techniques for using these sources effectively. It adopts two novel approaches which make it easy to use. Firstly, information about each type of legal publication is presented under standard headings, and secondly, diagrams and charts are provided where possible to outline the content of publications. It also explains how to use electronic databases, both remote online such as Lexis and CD-ROM.