Legal Research

Legal Research

Legal research often conjure up imagery of assistants scurrying toward find case law, related statutes, regulations to prove an argument, or an legal representative receiving a message on their BlackBerry a in the courtroom with the required information to win the case.

Legal research is defined as that tool which allows the court ‘to find "authority" that will aid in finding a solution to a legal problem'. Internet, only publishers such as LexisNexis and Westlaw, persistent law books that attorneys reserved in their in-house libraries, were the sources one could use to find the majority of this Authority. All of this is changing rapidly.

LexisNexis and Westlaw are still great services and they often carry exclusive publications one can only admittance through their particular systems such as their CD ROMs or Internet subscription services. They are most useful to researchers as they incorporate expensive added information to court cases, such as West Headnotes. But if the budget is tight or a smaller firm can't justify the expense, there are alternatives.

Locating an expert opinion

Experts are another hot resource for legal researchers. There are experts who are not motivated to provide expert testimony because of the money, and they can contribute much value to a case by way of their expertise.

Conducting business information research

Now, let's step outside legal research and take a look at the business side of research. Gathering business information related to legal cases can aid legal strategy, but firms can also use this type of research to keep themselves and/or their clients competitive. Law firms looking for new engagements often stay in touch with trends. Demographics represent an important piece of data as it relates to areas of growth by geographic location.

Additionally, law firms can use research for recruiting purposes, business development, expansion, and numerous other management decisions. There are many studies and articles that offer data on law firm revenue, attorney compensation, diversity, culture, and management issues.

By Donna Fryer

Donna Fryer has worked in the information research industry for the past 18 years assisting the corporate, legal, private investigator industries, and small to medium size business with their research needs. Donna has spoken on a multitude of topics including Competitive Intelligence research, research on the Internet, and technology issues, and has developed and taught continuing legal education classes for attorneys and paralegals across the country.