Navigating Legal Research & Technology: Quick Reference Guide to the 1,500 Most Common Questions About Traditional and Online Legal Research

Legal research has changed dramatically in the past 20 years, first with the development of electronic legal research using Lexis and Westlaw and then with the introduction of the internet which has forever changed the traditional manual approach to legal research into a hybrid of both manual and electronic legal research. Drawing from nearly 50 years of combined teaching experience the authors have compiled this unique and valuable work with an approach that differs from most other methods of legal research instruction. In it they have reversed the typical instruction model into a question-answer model that will greatly benefit a large cross-section of researchers from a multitude of disciplines. In a simple-to-use, efficient reference guide this work provides answers to basic legal research questions as well as definitions of many legal terms. It also delves into the use of online and manual resources to locate answers to more complex questions. Students, librarians, attorneys, paralegals, business professionals, and the general public will truly benefit from this handy reference work.

Finally, a comprehensive basic guide to legal lingo. This book is a must for everyone starting out in legal research. Law students, paralegal students and the layperson who needs to understand the various terms they are hearing and seeing will find this volume extremely useful and should keep it close at hand. --Lawrence R. Meyer, Director, Law Library for San Bernardino County, California

Dr. Fishman and Professor Rao have created a unique road map for researchers to quickly understand and locate the appropriate resources for their legal research. Students at every level will find this new guide provides quick references to expedite the research process. It is an excellent desk reference for lawyers and paralegals. --Pamela J. Bailey, MA, ACP, Program Coordinator, Duquesne University Paralegal Institute

This text is a unique contribution to legal research literature. It provides concise answers to threshold questions that often are important to an assignment but unknown to the new lawyer or novice researcher. [It] will be a useful addition to a law school library and to public library law collections. --Sheri H. Lewis, J.D., M.L.S. Associate Law Librarian for Public Services and Lecturer in Law University of Chicago D'Angelo Law Library