Finding the answers to legal questions

摘要

Conducting legal research might seem like a formidable task. Not only is the law an immensely broad and multifaceted subject replete with tacit complexities, it is a constantly changing and evolving body of information that can be a challenge for even the most experienced legal professional to navigate. Unquestionably, the skills legal practitioners utilize to conduct legal research can take years of training and practice to perfect. At a minimum, the process of legal research requires the researcher to know not only where to locate primary legal materials such as court decisions, legislation, or administrative regulations but be able to accurately determine if the resources consulted are valid. Adding the consideration of jurisdictional and procedural issues to the analysis only complicates matters further. Nevertheless, library patrons are using libraries to obtain legal information and conduct legal research today more than ever before. It is, therefore, imperative that librarians develop the legal research skills necessary to competently assist their users. How is this possible without years of legal training? What librarians can do to overcome these challenges in order to accommodate the legal research needs of their patrons? Assistant professor and former county law librarian, Dr. Virginia M. Tucker and attorney and librarian, Marc Lampson provided the solution to these questions in their newly updated book Finding the Answers to Legal Questions. Written as a resource for librarians, paralegals, and law students, but especially recommended for reference librarians or staff in small to medium public libraries, this book offers a wealth of information in a practical, understandable, and user friendly format that will have even the most novice librarian assisting patrons with ease.