Legal Research: A Practitioner's Handbook - Hardcover

Peter Clinch

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 085490123X ISBN 13: 9780854901234

Publisher: Wildy, Simmonds & Hill Publishing, 2013

Synopsis

This comprehensive reference work is specifically aimed at busy practitioners (solicitors, barristers and professional support lawyers). 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 second edition has been thoroughly updated throughout, taking into account the increasing popularity of the PLC database 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 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.

About this title

About the Author

Peter Clinch has 35 years' experience in law information work, including training law students, practising solicitors and law librarians in legal research skills.

Review

'As the electronic age makes more information more freely available, it becomes increasingly important to get the right information from the appropriate sources. I doubt there is any practitioner who would not learn something from this book, and there should be a space for it in any serious legal library.' Review from Law Society Gazette

Edition details

• Publisher: Wildy, Simmonds & Hill Publishing
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 085490123X
• ISBN 13: 9780854901234
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 480