How is legal research different from other types of research? Provide at least two (2) examples of sources or methods that distinguish it. Contrast the goals of legal research with the goals of other types of research.
What is the importance of legal citation form in legal research and writing?
Legal research is different from other types of research in a few key ways.
First, legal research is focused on finding and interpreting the law. This means that legal researchers must be familiar with the different sources of law, such as statutes, regulations, and court opinions. They must also be able to understand how these sources of law interact with each other.
Second, legal research is often more technical than other types of research. This is because the law is often complex and nuanced. Legal researchers must be able to understand the legal jargon and to identify the relevant legal principles.
Third, legal research is often more focused on precedent. This means that legal researchers must be able to find and analyze previous court decisions that are relevant to their research question.
Here are two examples of sources or methods that distinguish legal research from other types of research:
The goals of legal research are also different from the goals of other types of research. In legal research, the goal is to find the law that applies to a particular situation. This means that legal researchers must be able to identify the relevant legal principles and to apply them to the facts of the case.
In other types of research, the goal is often to discover new knowledge or to understand a particular phenomenon. Legal research is not typically focused on discovery or understanding. Instead, it is focused on finding the law that applies to a particular situation.
The importance of legal citation form in legal research and writing cannot be overstated. Legal citation form is the way that legal sources are cited in legal documents. It is important for several reasons:
By following proper legal citation form, lawyers and judges can ensure that their research and writing is accurate, efficient, and helpful to others.