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The Fifth Edition of Legal Research Explainedoffers accessible, complete, and timely coverage specifically created for Legal Research courses. Deborah E. Bouchoux’s popular building-block approach ensures that all students can master these essential skills.
The text is divided into five sections: 1) conducting legal research using primary authorities; 2) conducting legal research using secondary authorities and other research aids; 3) electronic and computer resources; 4) legal citation form and validating authorities; and 5) “putting it all together,” providing a final overview of the legal research process.
Research assignments in each chapter, completely updated for this edition, give students practice with both conventional print resources and online sources. Charts, diagrams, and sample pages from research resources help students understand complex topics. In addition, Practice Tips in each chapter offer realistic and helpful suggestions for workplace success, and Ethics Alerts are included throughout the book.
New to the Fifth Edition:
New “Sidebar” feature provides quick tips showing how the material in that chapter applies to computer-assisted legal research systems, such as Lexis, Westlaw, and Bloomberg Law.
Discussion of GovInfo, which provides free public access to official and authenticated publications from all three branches of the federal government.
Coverage of new tools used for cite-checking, including EVA and Bestlaw.
Discussion of Westlaw Edge, Westlaw’s new research platform.
Extensive new coverage of artificial intelligence features that boost legal research.
References to helpful YouTube videos for tips on Shepardizing, KeyCiting, and researching.
New section on sources that provide free public access to the law, including Harvard’s Caselaw Access Project, CourtListener, and RECAP Project.
New section on preparing informal or email memoranda, with a new assignment.
All new Research Questions and Internet Legal Research Assignments included.
Professors and students will benefit from:
Pedagogy designed to enhance the accessibility of the material, including helpful charts and diagrams, annotated sample pages and screen shots that illustrate legal research authorities, updated Practice Tips offering realistic and helpful suggestions for workplace success, and Ethics Alerts in every chapter.
Well-designed assignments help students learn how to use a wide range of research sources.
Chapters that demonstrate citation form for the resources discussed.
Conscientious revision that ensures that the book has the most up-to-date material, presented in a readable and accessible format.
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About the authors
Deborah E. Bouchoux
Instructior
Georgetown University
Deborah E. Bouchoux is a licensed attorney with more than twenty-five years of experience in legal education. She has taught at various universities, including the University of San Diego, Marymount University, and George Washington University. For the past 15 years, she has been an instructor in the Paralegal Studies Program at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., where she teaches a variety of subjects, including Legal Research and Writing, Advanced Writing Seminar, and Business Organizations. Her publications include the following texts:
* emLegal Research and Writing for Paralegalsem * emBusiness Organizations for Paralegalsem * emFundamentals of Business Organizations for Paralegalsem * emIntellectual Property for Paralegalsem * emProtecting Your Company’s Intellectual Propertyem * emCite Checker: A Hands-On Guide to Citation Formem * emCite-Mateem (a guide to citation form) * emThe Practical Paralegal: Strategies for Successem * emAspen Handbook for Legal Writersem
Ms. Bouchoux has spoken on a variety of legal topics at private law firms, Fortune 500 companies, and various government agencies, including the Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the U.S. Tax Court. She is a frequent speaker for the National Capital Area Paralegal Association and has been nominated for its Annual Recognition Award.
Ms. Bouchoux was in private practice for more than twenty years, practicing in the fields of corporate and intellectual property law and served as in-house counsel for a technology company in northern Virginia.
Ms. Bouchoux graduated magna cum laude with her B.A. in American Studies from San Diego State University and summa cum laude with her J.D. from Santa Clara University School of Law.