The authors have made the Internet a resource that both computer experts and computer neophytes can use to their advantage. Additionally, to keep this book understandable to everyone, the authors have used a practical, problem-based approach to conducting legal research. This hands-on approach is the best way to become a proficient legal researcher on the Internet. Chapter One lays the foundation for the chapters that follow, beginning with a brief explanation of the Internet. Chapter Two provides instruction on the use of the two most commonly used Web browsers while Chapter Three introduces the reader to the basics of an Internet search.
Chapter Four introduces the overarching legal problem.
This problem resembles a case that a senior attorney would present to an associate to research. There are many facets to the problem, necessitating legal research into case law, statutory law, constitutional law, and legal periodicals. Thus, the overarching problem drives the discussion of researching the various legal authorities available on the Internet. The remaining chapters focus on research strategies for finding authority using the research problem as a starting point. You will apply your newly developed research skills using an exercise based on the overarching research problem.