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1L Legal Research Primer

Analyze the Facts

Subject Matter Items or location
Parties
  • Group or class of persons involved in a dispute (i.e., homeowners)
  • Consider the relationships of parties i.e., (husband suing wife for divorce)
Legal Theories
  • A legal theory is the basis for a claim or cause of action
  • Legal theories might also include defenses
Relief  Damages expected (money, injunction)

 

Identify Legal Issues

  1. Understand how the law relates to the facts
  2. Search for authority that resolves he legal issues in the factual situation

Preliminary Research

Use secondary sources to understand different subjects 

Use treatises, encyclopedias and law journals to get a broad overview of general subject matter categories